A+
1%
Overall NAT. AVG.
8%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
4%
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 Stow Ohio National
Cost of living9992100
Goods & Services92100100
Groceries101101100
Health care9598100
Housing10473100
Transportation98100100
Utilities10399100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Stow, OH

Are you thinking about relocating, but curious about the potential cost of living in Stow? Is it more expensive or more affordable than average? Based on the most recent report, the cost of living in Stow stands at 99, making it 1% lower 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.

In Stow, 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 Stow will resemble that of an average city, contributing to a manageable cost of living.

Is Stow Affordable?

Is Stow an affordable place to live? It's a good question and one that you might want to ask when considering any new city, as affordability can play a huge role in the decision making process. The cost of living index (which we covered above), as well as housing costs and income levels play a vital role in determining the affordability of an area. The median home price in Stow is 3.3% higher than the national average, while the average monthly rent prices are 6.3% higher than average. The affordability of any location can also be influenced by median income levels. Stow has a median household income of $76,883, which is 39% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Stow?

Groceries: Grocery costs have continued to increase significantly over the last 2-3 years. In some markets the cost of food has gone up by more than 20% in that period. While other markets have managed to see only a moderate uptick. These food costs can have a major impact on the cost of living in any area. In Stow, the groceries index is 1.1% higher than the national average.

Transportation: In cities with limited or no public transportation, residents may find it necessary to own and maintain vehicles, thereby elevating the cost of living. Monthly expenditures include fuel, insurance, routine maintenance and potential lease or financing commitments. In Stow, the transportation index stands at 2% lower 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 Stow, the utilities index registers 2.8% higher than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Stow 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 Stow is 7% higher than the Ohio average
  • The cost of living in Stow is 1% lower than the national average
  • Stow housing is 4% higher than the national average
  • Ohio general sales tax is 13% higher than the national average
  • Ohio state income tax is 6% higher than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Stow

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Compare Stow, OH Cost of Living

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      Salary Calculator

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      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$89,656$7,471$2,092$2,690
      Renters$53,139$4,428$1,240$1,594
      The percent of monthly income spent on housing can be a good indicator of the affordability of housing in Stow, OH, as well as the overall cost of living. As a general rule of thumb, the debt-to-income ratio (DTI) for homeowners or renters should be not more than 28 percent of gross income to be spent on housing related costs and not more than 36 percent of income on all expenses, including debts. The median income for Stow homeowners, is $89,656. This would allow for a maximum of $2,092 per month to be spent on housing costs. For renters, the median monthly income is $53,139 which would result in a maximum of $1,240 to be spent on rental costs.

      Ohio Sales Tax

      State General Sales Tax With Max Surtax
      Ohio 5.75% 8%

      Ohio Income Tax

      State Income Tax (Low) Income Tax (High)
      Ohio 2.76% 3.99%

      Goods & Services

      Item Stow National avg. Difference
      Haircut $23.67$24.262.5%
      Beauty Salon $35.31$45.5622.5%
      Toothpaste $3.68$3.700.5%
      Shampoo $1.45$1.2813.0%
      Movie $11.60$12.134.4%
      Bowling $18.27$18.001.5%

      Groceries

      Item Stow National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $5.46$5.846.5%
      Fried Chicken $1.39$1.5711.4%
      Milk $4.57$4.672.3%
      Potatoes $5.38$4.939.1%
      Pizza $9.98$12.0917.4%
      Beer $10.51$10.411.0%

      Health Care

      Item Stow National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $103.58$125.6817.6%
      Doctor $119.67$135.7811.9%
      Dentist $109.73$113.293.1%
      Ibuprofen $10.73$10.650.7%
      Lipitor $503.65$468.607.5%

      Housing

      Item Stow National avg. Difference
      Home Price $190,800.00$184,700.003.3%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $1,788.16$2,346.6923.8%
      Apartment Rent $1,009.00$949.006.3%

      Transportation

      Item Stow National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.41$3.461.4%
      Tire Balancing $57.76$59.923.6%

      Utilities

      Item Stow National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $205.88$193.996.1%
      Phone $186.78$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.
      Sawyerwood, OH1,6048020.0%
      Limaville, OH2108416.3%
      Akron, OH197,3758415.6%
      Barberton, OH26,0308515.5%
      Bedford, OH12,5558614.1%
      Stow, OH34,770991.4%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Lebanon, TN34,7591066.1%
      Boardman, OH34,7178910.7%
      Owings Mills, MD34,71111817.7%
      Leawood, KS34,70213535.1%
      Englewood, CO34,84012626.4%
      Stow, OH34,770991.4%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.