F
49%
Overall NAT. AVG.
10%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
141%
Housing NAT. AVG.
Search Homes for Sale
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 Lorton Virginia National
Cost of living149109100
Goods & Services110100100
Groceries113101100
Health care10999100
Housing241130100
Transportation11195100
Utilities101104100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Lorton, VA

The cost of living in Lorton affects the quality of life one can afford in this new location. It allows people to assess whether they can maintain their preferred lifestyle, including housing, leisure activities and dining options. Your total monthly expenditures can varry depending on the area, as well as many other factors. The cost of living in Lorton is 149, which is 49% higher than the national average. Knowledge of the cost of living can help individuals make informed decisions about retirement savings, investments, and financial goals.

If affordability is among your top priorities when searching for a new place to live, this area may not be the ideal fit, as the cost of living in Lorton is among the most expensive in the United States. Just a minority of areas exhibit a cost of living at least 20% higher than the national average, and unfortunately, Lorton falls into this category, which may not align with your goal of finding a budget-friendly living environment.

Housing costs make up a big chunk of the cost of living in Lorton, 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 140.9% more than the average city. This includes stuff like home prices, rent, mortgage rates, and insurance.

Recurring essentials like haircuts, toothpaste, and entertainment, from movies to gym sessions, can really add up in your budget and make up 33% of the cost of living index. In Lorton, you you will have to spend 10.2% more than average when compared to the typical prices for these items, making it a more expensive place to live.

Groceries are getting more expensive by the day and the cost of groceries makes up 13% of the overall cost of living index. In the past two years, prices have shot up by over 10%! Unfortunately, in Lorton, it's the same story – grocery costs are 12.6% higher than what people pay across the country.

Is Lorton Affordable?

Wondering if Lorton is affordable? It's a question that often comes up when you're thinking about a new city since affordability can really shape your decisions. The cost of living index (covered earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a part in the affordability equation. In Lorton, for example, the median home price is 151.7% higher than what folks pay nationally, and monthly rent is 115.8% higher than the usual rates. Plus, income levels matter too, with Lorton boasting a median household income of $107,803, which is 94.9% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Lorton?

Utilities: As with the prices of anything else, utility costs can exhibit significant variations, contingent on factors like climate, energy source availability, geographic location and state regulations. The expenses associated with electricity, water, heating, and waste disposal can fluctuate, either upward or downward, depending on the particular city or state. In Lorton, the utilities index registers 0.8% higher than the national average.

Healthcare: Healthcare expenses and insurance premiums can vary significantly depending on the specific city or state. Factors such as accessibility to healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for doctor's visits, dental care expenses, prescription costs and specialized medical care fees can all influence the overall cost of living. In Lorton, healthcare costs are 9.3% higher than the national average.

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 Lorton cost of living data you see above is sourced from the C2ER cost of living index, providing a practical and accurate means of comparing living expenses in urban areas. Updated quarterly, this index gathers data from over 300 independent researchers, covering more than 60 goods and services, in 6 different categories. These selections are made meticulously to represent a wide range of consumer expenditure categories. The weightings applied to cost differences are based on government survey data that tracks spending patterns among professional and executive households. It's important to note that while the C2ER index excludes data on sales or income tax rates, AreaVibes factors tax rates into the overall cost of living score for each region.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Lorton is 37% higher than the Virginia average
  • The cost of living in Lorton is 49% higher than the national average
  • Lorton housing is 141% higher than the national average
  • Virginia general sales tax is 4% higher than the national average
  • Virginia state income tax is 23% lower than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Lorton

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Compare Lorton, VA 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$129,009$10,751$3,010$3,871
      Renters$97,556$8,130$2,276$2,927
      To approximate the cost of living and the housing affordability in Lorton, VA, we can look at the percentage of income that is available to be spent on monthly housing, otherwise known as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). To stay on the safe side, a consumer should not spend more than 28% of his or her gross income on housing-related expenses and costs and not more than 36% of income on all expenses and debts. Homeowners in Lorton have a median income of $129,009. Therefore, the amount that a consumer should spend on housing costs should be no more than $3,010 per month to avoid calamity and poverty. The renters in the city have an income of about $97,556, which would make their monthly maximum allowable rental costs $2,276.

      Virginia Sales Tax

      State General Sales Tax With Max Surtax
      Virginia 5.3% 6%

      Virginia Income Tax

      State Income Tax (Low) Income Tax (High)
      Virginia 2% 5.75%

      Goods & Services

      Item Lorton National avg. Difference
      Haircut $25.51$24.265.1%
      Beauty Salon $47.63$45.564.5%
      Toothpaste $3.62$3.702.1%
      Shampoo $1.34$1.284.4%
      Movie $13.08$12.137.8%
      Bowling $24.34$18.0035.2%

      Groceries

      Item Lorton National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $6.08$5.844.1%
      Fried Chicken $1.41$1.5710.6%
      Milk $4.68$4.670.2%
      Potatoes $5.30$4.937.3%
      Pizza $12.49$12.093.4%
      Beer $10.83$10.414.0%

      Health Care

      Item Lorton National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $120.12$125.684.4%
      Doctor $135.82$135.780.0%
      Dentist $98.77$113.2912.8%
      Ibuprofen $10.80$10.651.4%
      Lipitor $485.49$468.603.6%

      Housing

      Item Lorton National avg. Difference
      Home Price $464,900.00$184,700.00151.7%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $1,923.85$2,346.6918.0%
      Apartment Rent $2,048.00$949.00115.8%

      Transportation

      Item Lorton National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.34$3.463.6%
      Tire Balancing $64.70$59.928.0%

      Utilities

      Item Lorton National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $213.29$193.999.9%
      Phone $184.83$192.253.9%
      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.
      Port Tobacco Village, MD41099.3%
      Rose Hill CDP (Lee County), VA708927.8%
      Potomac Heights, MD1,247936.5%
      Woodlawn CDP (Carroll County), VA2,247945.9%
      Wakefield town, VA810954.6%
      Lorton, VA20,92414948.8%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Battle Ground, WA20,93112423.6%
      New Hope, MN20,9131044.4%
      Lynn Haven, FL20,9101044.4%
      Stephenville, TX20,887954.6%
      Pleasant Prairie, WI20,96911110.5%
      Lorton, VA20,92414948.8%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.