An Overview of Cost of Living in Oak Grove, OR
Are you thinking about relocating, but curious about the potential cost of living in Oak Grove? Is it more expensive or more affordable than average? Based on the most recent report, the cost of living in Oak Grove stands at 130, making it 30% higher than the national average. The cost of living directly affects the affordability of one's desired lifestyle. Knowing the cost of housing, transportation, groceries and other essentials in the new area allows people to gauge whether they can maintain their preferred standard of living.
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 Oak Grove 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, Oak Grove falls into this category, which may not align with your goal of finding a budget-friendly living environment.
Housing costs significantly influence the Oak Grove cost of living index, typically accounting for a substantial portion of one's post-tax income. Regrettably, within this particular region, expenses related to both residential ownership and renting exceeded those observed in an average city by 78.5%. This entails elements such as housing and rental prices, mortgage interest rates and insurance costs.
The cost of groceries continues to rise at an alarming rate. Over the last two years, grocery prices have increased by more than 10%! Unfortunately, in Oak Grove, the news isn't any better as grocery prices are 10.5% higher than the national average.
Is Oak Grove Affordable?
Wondering if Oak Grove 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 Oak Grove, for example, the median home price is 92.3% higher than what folks pay nationally, and monthly rent is 46.4% higher than the usual rates. Plus, income levels matter too, with Oak Grove boasting a median household income of $66,809, which is 20.8% higher than the national average.
What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Oak Grove?
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 Oak Grove, healthcare costs are 9.6% higher than the national average.
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 Oak Grove, the utilities index registers 3.8% lower than the national average.
Housing: When everyone's vying for homes in popular areas, it drives up property prices and rents, making the overall cost of living surge. On the flip side, in less sought-after locales, where housing demand is low, prices tend to dip, resulting in a more economical cost of living. In Oak Grove, the housing index comes in at 78.5% higher than the national average.
Where is the Data From?
The cost of living in Oak Grove, presented above is derived from the C2ER cost of living index, offering a practical method for assessing living cost disparities in urban areas. Published quarterly, this index compiles data from more than 300 independent researchers, encompassing over 60 goods and services in 6 categories. The weightings assigned to cost variances are informed by government survey data tracking the expenditure patterns of professional and executive households. It should be noted that the C2ER index does not include data on sales or income tax rates, however, AreaVibes incorporates tax rates into the overall cost of living score for each area.