F
20%
Overall NAT. AVG.
15%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
45%
Housing NAT. AVG.
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Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.
The cost of living index is based on a national average of 100. For example, if the cost of living is 90, then it is 10% lower than average. If the cost of living is 110, then it is 10% higher than average. The breakdown for each index is as follows: goods & services (33%), groceries (13%), health care (5%), housing (30%), transportation (9%) and utilities (10%). If the cost of living data was unavailable for this city, estimates based upon nearby cities were used.
Index Fort Drum New York National
Cost of living120117100
Goods & Services115108100
Groceries99102100
Health care103103100
Housing145145100
Transportation109105100
Utilities107100100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Fort Drum, NY

Knowing the cost of living in Fort Drum allows individuals to create a realistic budget. This helps them understand how their income will cover expenses and whether they need to make financial adjustments. The cost of living in any region can fluctuate due to various factors. To assess the cost of living consistently across different areas, a national average of 100 serves as the basis for the cost of living index. The cost of living in Fort Drum stands at 120, marking it 20% higher than the national average.

If you're in pursuit of an economical living environment, Fort Drum may not fit the bill, as it ranks among the most expensive places to reside in the United States. Just a minority of regions exhibit a cost of living that is more than 20% higher than the national average, and, unfortunately, Fort Drum falls within this bracket.

Housing costs make up a big chunk of the cost of living in Fort Drum, and they usually eat into a large part of your take-home pay. Unfortunately, in this area, both buying a home and renting one costs 45.4% more than the average city. This includes stuff like home prices, rent, mortgage rates, and insurance.

Recurring goods and services expenses like haircuts, toothpaste, gym memberships and movie nights are a big part of your spending and make up 33% of the cost of living index. In Fort Drum, these items will cost you 15% more than what most folks pay, making it a bit more expensive to live here.

Is Fort Drum Affordable?

Is Fort Drum affordable? This is a pivotal question, especially when mulling over a move, as affordability carries substantial weight in your decision-making process. Factors such as the cost of living index (discussed earlier), housing expenses and income levels all contribute to a location's affordability. For instance, in Fort Drum, the median home price is 100% lower than the national average and monthly rent prices are 45.4% higher than the typical rates. Additionally, the median income levels play a role in affordability, with Fort Drum boasting a median household income of $50,202, 9.3% lower than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Fort Drum?

Housing: High demand for housing in desirable locations can drive up property prices and rental rates. This can be a primary contributor to a higher cost of living. While low demand for housing, especially in undesirable locations, can have the reverse effect and drive prices down, resulting in a lower cost of living. The housing index in Fort Drum, is 45.4% higher than the national average.

Taxes: Areas with higher taxes, including sales taxes and income taxes, can contribute to a higher cost of living. Paying more tax for everyday goods and services like clothing and food will result in higher costs, as will paying a higher rate of income tax. The general sales tax rate in Fort Drum starts at 4% and the income tax rates start at 4%.

Subsidies: Certain cities or states may institute government subsidies or assistance programs designed to alleviate the financial burdens associated with the cost of living for their residents. These programs encompass a variety of support mechanisms, including Medicare, Medicaid, housing subsidies, low-income home energy assistance programs, school lunch programs, supplemental nutrition assistance programs, student loans, electric vehicle tax credits, affordable care act subsidies and farm subsidies. Areas that provide fewer subsidies may see an uptick in their overall cost of living.

Where is the Data From?

The cost of living data in Fort Drum displayed above is sourced from the C2ER cost of living index, which serves as a practical tool for comparing living expenses across urban areas. Published on a quarterly basis, this index aggregates data from over 300 independent researchers, encompassing more than 60 goods and services, in 6 different categories. The weightings assigned to cost differences rely on government survey data that tracks the spending habits of professional and executive households. It's worth noting that the C2ER index excludes data on sales or income tax rates, while AreaVibes integrates tax rates into the overall cost of living evaluation for each region.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Fort Drum is 3% higher than the New York average
  • The cost of living in Fort Drum is 20% higher than the national average
  • Fort Drum housing is 45% higher than the national average
  • New York general sales tax is 22% lower than the national average
  • New York state income tax is 54% higher than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Fort Drum

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Compare Fort Drum, NY Cost of Living

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      Salary Calculator

      This is how much you would need to earn in
      Price difference in compared to
      Cost of living index
      Goods & Services index
      Groceries index
      Health care index
      Housing index
      Transportation index
      Utilities index

      Median Income & Debt-To-Income Ratio

      Median Income Per Year Per Month Max Budget (28% DTI) Max Budget (36% DTI)
      Owners$40,893$3,408$954$1,227
      Renters$50,655$4,221$1,182$1,520
      A good indicator of the general affordability of housing in Fort Drum, NY, is the percentage of monthly income that should be spent on housing expenses, otherwise known as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). Generally speaking, no more than 28 percent of your total gross income should be spent on your housing expenses and not more than 36 percent of your gross income on total expenses, including debts. In Fort Drum, the median monthly income is $40,893 for those who own their own homes. Under the standard rule, that income level would allow for $954 to be budgeted for housing expenses each month, at the most. Renters, on the other hand, earn about $50,655, per the median income in the area. That would allow for renters to spend up to $1,182 on monthly rental expenses.

      New York Sales Tax

      State General Sales Tax With Max Surtax
      New York 4% 8.875%

      New York Income Tax

      State Income Tax (Low) Income Tax (High)
      New York 4% 10.9%

      Goods & Services

      Item Fort Drum National avg. Difference
      Haircut $15.89$24.2634.5%
      Beauty Salon $39.00$45.5614.4%
      Toothpaste $3.67$3.700.8%
      Shampoo $1.17$1.288.9%
      Movie $11.17$12.137.9%
      Bowling $14.33$18.0020.4%

      Groceries

      Item Fort Drum National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $5.84$5.840.1%
      Fried Chicken $1.51$1.574.0%
      Milk $4.80$4.672.8%
      Potatoes $5.11$4.933.5%
      Pizza $12.75$12.095.5%
      Beer $10.36$10.410.5%

      Health Care

      Item Fort Drum National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $111.00$125.6811.7%
      Doctor $143.15$135.785.4%
      Dentist $118.67$113.294.7%
      Ibuprofen $10.40$10.652.4%
      Lipitor $509.11$468.608.6%

      Housing

      Item Fort Drum National avg. Difference
      Home Price $0.00$184,700.00100.0%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $1,404.03$2,346.6940.2%
      Apartment Rent $1,380.00$949.0045.4%

      Transportation

      Item Fort Drum National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.64$3.465.1%
      Tire Balancing $70.72$59.9218.0%

      Utilities

      Item Fort Drum National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $215.23$193.9910.9%
      Phone $194.79$192.251.3%
      Although the cost of living data is updated regularly, this cost of living information is to be used as estimates only as prices can change on an ongoing basis.

      Nearby cities with low cost of living

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Depauville, NY2241022.4%
      Natural Bridge, NY2288811.9%
      Felts Mills, NY4518911.0%
      Fishers Landing, NY768515.0%
      Herrings, NY132909.6%
      Fort Drum, NY13,03412020.3%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Avenal, CA13,0331055.3%
      Val-des-Monts, QC13,035n/a 
      Woodinville, WA13,03817979.4%
      Jupiter Farms, FL13,04512929.3%
      Fort Lewis, WA13,04513635.7%
      Fort Drum, NY13,03412020.3%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.