Housing decision brief
Fredericksburg city, VA Housing Market
Fredericksburg city screens as a higher purchase price, rent that needs comparison, a manageable tax-rate signal market. Use the page as a decision brief, not just a price lookup, because local income, taxes, and data confidence change how affordable the county really is.
121st lowest home value out of 133 Virginia counties with data | 112th lowest rent out of 133
Median home value
$461,500
Purchase-price signal from Census ACS.
Median rent
$1,521/mo
Gross rent, including utilities where reported.
Monthly owner cost
$2,036/mo
Owner costs before individual loan terms.
Decision snapshot
Read this county in four signals.
Buy screen
5.4x
Median home value divided by local household income.
Rent burden
28.0%
Below 30% usually screens as less pressured.
Rent vs own
$515/mo
Median rent screens below owner cost.
Data confidence
1 note
Crime coverage is partial, so safety comparisons need source context.
What Works
Rent burden below pressure line
28.00% of renter income goes to rent, below the 30% burden threshold.
Low disaster-risk signal
Risk score is 91.3 out of 100, a stronger cross-check for long-term ownership costs.
What to Check
Crime data coverage
Crime data coverage is partial. Treat zero or low crime rates as incomplete until you check the source coverage.
Best Fit For
- Long-term owners who care about disaster-risk exposure
Poor Fit For
- Anyone treating reported crime rates as complete without source context
County vs State vs National
The county number only matters after you see the benchmark. These comparisons show where Fredericksburg city is genuinely cheap, where it is average, and where the hidden cost may be.
| Metric | County | State | U.S. | Signal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Median home value Lower usually helps affordability. | $461,500 | $240,900 | $281,900 | 92% pressure92% above Virginia county median |
Median gross rent Lower usually helps affordability. | $1,521 | $1,043 | $1,163 | 46% pressure46% above Virginia county median |
Monthly owner cost Lower usually helps affordability. | $2,036 | $978 | $1,672 | 108% pressure108% above Virginia county median |
Median household income | $85,368 | $66,718 | $74,755 | 28% favorable28% above Virginia county median |
Effective property-tax rate Lower usually helps affordability. | 0.62% | 0.63% | 1.02% | Near state median1% below Virginia county median |
Rent burden Lower usually helps affordability. | 28.00% | 28.00% | N/A | Near state median28.00% of renter income goes to rent. |
Income Fit
A low price only helps if local income can carry the monthly cost. This panel compares the county income base with rent and owner-cost thresholds.
Rent cushion
+$24,528
Median income minus rent threshold.
Owner cushion
-$1,889
Median income minus owner-cost threshold.
Affordability Advisory
This turns the raw housing numbers into income and buy-versus-rent screens.
Affordability verdict
Fredericksburg city is affordable for renters, with a median gross rent of $1,521/month representing approximately 21.4% of median household income. The rent burden (GRAPI) stands at 28.0%.
Rent vs own
The median rent in Fredericksburg city is $1,521/month, while owner costs run $2,036/month. Renting saves approximately $515/month.
Income needed
To afford the median rent without exceeding 30% of gross income, a household needs to earn approximately $60,840/year. For owner costs at the 28% rule, the required income is roughly $87,257/year. With a median household income of $85,368, most households can comfortably afford rent here. Notably, 28.0% of renter households in Fredericksburg city are cost-burdened, spending more than 30% of income on housing.
Regional context
Compared to Charlottesville city where rent averages $1,453/month, Fredericksburg city is approximately 5% more expensive.
Better Counties to Compare
Similar counties are matched on home value, rent, income, and state context. This is more useful than a simple nearest-price list.
| County | Home Value | Rent | Why compare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albemarle County, VA | $471,000 | $1,623/mo | Same-state comparison near $471,000 home value and $1,623/mo rent. |
| Charlottesville city, VA | $448,400 | $1,453/mo | Same-state comparison near $448,400 home value and $1,453/mo rent. |
| Rappahannock County, VA | $490,200 | $1,384/mo | Same-state comparison near $490,200 home value and $1,384/mo rent. |
| James City County, VA | $419,200 | $1,491/mo | Same-state comparison near $419,200 home value and $1,491/mo rent. |
| Chesapeake city, VA | $359,100 | $1,523/mo | Same-state comparison near $359,100 home value and $1,523/mo rent. |
Data Confidence
- Crime coverage is partial, so safety comparisons need source context.
Next Checks
Housing Questions for Fredericksburg city
Is Fredericksburg city affordable for buying a home?
Is renting or owning cheaper in Fredericksburg city?
How much income do you need for housing in Fredericksburg city?
What should I double-check before moving to Fredericksburg city?
Data: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023) — Informational only. Not financial or legal advice.