A
2%
Overall NAT. AVG.
0%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
8%
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 Hendersonville North Carolina National
Cost of living10294100
Goods & Services10098100
Groceries9898100
Health care110108100
Housing10885100
Transportation9292100
Utilities10894100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Hendersonville, NC

Understanding the cost of living in Hendersonville can help future residents assess whether their current financial situation aligns with the expenses they will encounter. It enables them to plan for potential changes in their budget and lifestyle. The Hendersonville cost of living index is 102, which is 2% higher than the national average. The cost of living index is calculated by taking into account multiple categories, which encompass both the cost of everyday expenditures and larger expenses as well.

In Hendersonville, daily expenses such as food, housing, goods and services, transportation and health care are in line with comparable areas and about average when compared to all cities across the nation. This ensures that the cost of living in Hendersonville will resemble that of an average city, contributing to a manageable cost of living.

What Do Locals Say About the Cost of Living in Hendersonville?

Nobody knows their city better than the people who actually live there. So, we asked 8 local residents how they would rate the cost of living in Hendersonville and this is how they responded. 13% of people said that the cost of living was affordable, with prices decreasing, while 88% of people said that the cost of living was very expensive and prices continue to rise.

Is Hendersonville Affordable?

Is Hendersonville affordable? It's a key consideration when pondering a move, as affordability often shapes your choices. The cost of living index (we discussed it earlier), coupled with housing costs and income levels, serves as the cornerstone for determining a location's affordability. Take Hendersonville, for instance, where the median home price falls 11.9% higher than the national average, and monthly rent rates are 0.6% lower than usual. Additionally, median income levels contribute to the equation, with Hendersonville flaunting a median household income of $41,185, 25.6% lower than the national norm.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Hendersonville?

Housing: Elevated demand for housing within coveted locales has the propensity to escalate both property values and rental rates, thereby serving as a primary catalyst for an augmented cost of living. Conversely, areas witnessing diminished housing demand, particularly within less desirable environs, often experience an inversely proportional effect, leading to price reductions and subsequently contributing to a more modest cost of living. In Hendersonville, the housing index is 8.1% higher than the national average.

Urbanization: Larger, urban centers, known for their wealth of amenities and strong employment prospects, often exhibit an elevated cost of living, primarily attributable to the heightened demand for services and residential relocation. Consequently, this scenario leads to elevated home prices and higher rental rates. In contrast, sparsely populated rural areas or regions characterized by diminished demand typically provide a more limited array of amenities and experience slower job market growth, resulting in a more affordable cost of living.

Subsidies: Some cities and states may extend government subsidies or aid programs aimed at reducing the cost of living for their residents. These initiatives encompass diverse forms of support, 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. Regions with limited subsidy provisions may witness an increase in their overall cost of living.

Where is the Data From?

The Hendersonville cost of living data displayed above is derived from the C2ER cost of living index to provide a useful and reasonably accurate measure of living cost differences in urban areas. The index takes into account data from 300 independent researches, covering more than 60 goods and services across 6 different categories, to create an overall index for each area, with 100 being the average. The C2ER index does not include sales or income tax rates in their data, however AreaVibes does include both income and sales tax rates in the overall cost of living score for each area.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Hendersonville is 9% higher than the North Carolina average
  • The cost of living in Hendersonville is 2% higher than the national average
  • Hendersonville housing is 8% higher than the national average
  • North Carolina general sales tax is 7% lower than the national average
  • North Carolina state income tax is 83% higher than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Hendersonville

See all the best places to live around Hendersonville

Compare Hendersonville, NC 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$55,668$4,639$1,299$1,670
      Renters$33,932$2,828$792$1,018
      A good way to judge both the affordability of the housing and the cost of living in Hendersonville is by simply calculating the maximum that should be spent on housing, otherwise known as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). The plan is to avoid spending more than 28 percent of the gross income on costs that pertain to housing and no more than 36 percent on all expenses and debts. Hendersonville has a median income of about $55,668 for people who own homes. Based on that number, a maximum of $1,299 should be spent on expenses related to housing. Renters have a slightly different median income, which is $33,932. Based on this average, renters should spend no more than $792 on all rental costs if they want to maintain a non-impoverished standard of living.

      North Carolina Sales Tax

      State General Sales Tax With Max Surtax
      North Carolina 4.75% 7.5%

      North Carolina Income Tax

      State Income Tax (Low) Income Tax (High)
      North Carolina 4.75% 4.75%

      Goods & Services

      Item Hendersonville National avg. Difference
      Haircut $28.00$24.2615.4%
      Beauty Salon $48.22$45.565.8%
      Toothpaste $3.80$3.702.6%
      Shampoo $1.33$1.283.6%
      Movie $13.07$12.137.7%
      Bowling $15.89$18.0011.7%

      Groceries

      Item Hendersonville National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $6.47$5.8410.7%
      Fried Chicken $1.46$1.577.0%
      Milk $4.61$4.671.3%
      Potatoes $5.27$4.936.7%
      Pizza $10.44$12.0913.6%
      Beer $10.44$10.410.3%

      Health Care

      Item Hendersonville National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $155.11$125.6823.4%
      Doctor $166.73$135.7822.8%
      Dentist $113.89$113.290.5%
      Ibuprofen $10.57$10.650.7%
      Lipitor $509.86$468.608.8%

      Housing

      Item Hendersonville National avg. Difference
      Home Price $206,600.00$184,700.0011.9%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $2,256.40$2,346.693.8%
      Apartment Rent $943.00$949.000.6%

      Transportation

      Item Hendersonville National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.29$3.465.0%
      Tire Balancing $49.99$59.9216.6%

      Utilities

      Item Hendersonville National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $221.84$193.9914.4%
      Phone $186.82$192.252.8%
      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.
      Flat Rock CDP, NC1,4358415.8%
      Fruitland, NC2,2168614.0%
      Barker Heights, NC1,289946.1%
      Columbus, NC1,240928.0%
      East Flat Rock, NC6,108955.1%
      Hendersonville, NC14,0201022.3%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Gardendale, AL14,021991.2%
      Artondale, WA14,02415352.7%
      East Wenatchee, WA14,01211919.0%
      Chicago Ridge, IL14,0281011.2%
      Lewisville, NC14,0301033.1%
      Hendersonville, NC14,0201022.3%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.