Oak Ridge, NC
Living in Oak Ridge, NC costs about 30% more than the national average (Cost Index: 130). Housing is the main driver — the typical home value of $585,585 is well above the $303,400 US median. The local median household income is $140,583, which helps frame the place-side housing burden.
Oak Ridge already reads as a high-pressure housing market, with mixed rent pressure, 4.2x home-price-to-income, and a housing index of 193. Treat this page as a stress test for rent, mortgage, and tax burden before assuming the move works.Data Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 · BEA RPP 2023 · Zillow ZHVI
Based on your household income, housing mode, local rent, home value, property tax, and mortgage assumptions for Oak Ridge.
Cost of Living Breakdown
Each index uses 100 as the US national average. A score of 150 means 50% more expensive; 80 means 20% cheaper.
Oak Ridge Mortgage Calculator
Pre-filled with the local median home value of $585,585 and North Carolina's property tax rate of 0.84%.
Household Housing Budget
Local median household income is shown only as a place-side affordability input. Personal salary, filing status, and take-home pay analysis belong in salary.city.
Property Tax in Oak Ridge, NC
North Carolina Place Tax Context
Compare Oak Ridge to Another City
Compare place-side costs such as housing, rent, groceries, utilities, services, and tax context.
Cost of Living Comparison
Compare place-side housing, rent, goods, services, and utility pressure between cities.
Cost Index Comparison (100 = National Avg)
FAQ: Living in Oak Ridge
Is Oak Ridge, NC an expensive place to live?+
Yes — Oak Ridge is about 30% more expensive than the national average, with an overall Cost Index of 130. Housing is the biggest factor: the typical home here is valued around $585,585, and monthly rents average roughly N/A. Day-to-day costs like groceries and utilities tend to run closer to the national norm.
How does Oak Ridge fit a household housing budget?+
Start with housing. Typical monthly rent is N/A, while local median household income is $140,583. Rent-burden varies by household and unit choice. For a specific job offer, filing status, or take-home pay scenario, use salary.city.
How much are taxes in Oak Ridge, NC?+
North Carolina has a progressive state income tax with a top rate of 4.5%. The effective property tax rate is 0.84%. On a home worth $585,585, that translates to roughly $4,919 per year in property taxes. Sales tax (state + local) averages around 6.97% on everyday purchases.
How much does a house cost in Oak Ridge, NC?+
The median home in Oak Ridge is valued at $585,585. With 20% down and a 6.5% mortgage rate, you'd be looking at roughly $2,961/month for principal and interest alone — before property taxes and insurance. About 93% of residents here own their homes.
Are groceries and utilities expensive in Oak Ridge?+
Grocery prices in Oak Ridge are about average compared to the rest of the US (index: 97, where 100 is the national average). Utility bills (electricity, gas, water) are below average (index: 89). Overall, these everyday costs shouldn't cause major surprises if you're moving from another similarly-sized US city.
What is Oak Ridge, NC like to live in?+
Oak Ridge is a small town with a population of about 7,660. The median age of residents is 46.1, skewing somewhat older — common in established suburban communities. The local poverty rate is 2.69%, well below the national average of 12.4%.
Lower-Pressure Alternatives in North Carolina
If Oak Ridge feels tight, start with these same-state cities that look easier on rent burden or buy-side pressure.
Higher-Pressure Comparisons in North Carolina
Use these city pages when you want to compare Oak Ridge against tougher same-state markets before deciding whether the current city is already a stretch.
More Cities in North Carolina
View All North Carolina Cities →- Real Estate & Housing: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI, Smoothed & Seasonally Adjusted) and Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI). Structural fallback utilizes U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates.
- Goods, Utilities & Services: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Metropolitan Area Regional Price Parities (MARPP), incorporating verified State Nonmetropolitan averages.
- Mortgage Rates: Freddie Mac 30-Year Fixed Rate Mortgage Average in the United States (PMMS) via Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED).
- Tax Context: State-level property, sales, and income-tax context used for place-side relocation planning. Personal take-home pay and offer analysis are handled by salary.city.
- Index Methodology: Weighting matrix derived from Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Consumer Expenditure Surveys (CEX) distributional models. Baseline standardized at 100. (Read methodology details)