Staunton-Stuarts Draft cost of living
Prices in the Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA metro area run at 91.1 against a national average of 100, ranking it #267 of 387 metros. Rents there sit at 68.2.
What drives the number
Prices in Staunton-Stuarts Draft run at 91.1 where the national average is 100, so about 8.9 per cent below the country as a whole. It ranks #267 of 387 metro areas. Against Virginia as a whole it is 10 points less expensive, which is the unusual direction, and it means the expensive part of the state is somewhere else.
Housing is unusually cheap relative to everything else here. Rents sit at 68.2 against goods at 96.8 and other services at 89.5, so the overall figure of 91.1 understates how affordable the housing itself is. It is the opposite of the usual pattern, where housing is what makes a place expensive.
The number is most useful in reverse: a job here can pay less in cash and still leave a household better off, by roughly 8.9 per cent before anything else is considered.
The vertical line is the national average of 100. Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities, SARPP, 2024.
What the biggest local jobs are really worth
The same pay buys different amounts in different places, so a salary quoted in Staunton-Stuarts Draft is not comparable to one quoted elsewhere until it is divided by the local parity. These are the occupations that employ the most people here, with the quoted median alongside what that median is worth at national prices.
| Occupation | Employed | Median pay | Worth nationally | U.S. median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | 1,620 | $47,350 | $51,976 | $38,940 |
| Registered Nurses | 1,430 | $80,300 | $88,145 | $93,600 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | 1,410 | $27,470 | $30,154 | $30,480 |
| Retail Salespersons | 1,350 | $30,570 | $33,557 | $34,580 |
| Cashiers | 1,280 | $28,170 | $30,922 | $31,190 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | 1,250 | $36,360 | $39,912 | $37,090 |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | 1,070 | $27,740 | $30,450 | $34,900 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | 1,040 | $49,560 | $54,402 | $57,440 |
Pay from the BLS metro survey, adjusted by dividing by the metro parity of 91.1.
Nearby metro areas
| Metro area | All items | Rents | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria | 108.9 | 151.1 | #15 |
| Charlottesville | 99.1 | 107.0 | #97 |
| Richmond | 97.9 | 99.1 | #115 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk | 97.9 | 99.8 | #116 |
| Winchester | 96.5 | 90.0 | #139 |
| Harrisonburg | 94.9 | 82.3 | #170 |
Staunton-Stuarts Draft: common questions
Is Staunton-Stuarts Draft expensive?
Prices are 8.9% below the national average, a parity of 91.1 where the country is 100. It ranks #267 of the 387 metro areas BEA measures. Against Virginia as a whole it is 10 points less expensive.
What salary do you need in Staunton-Stuarts Draft?
The median worker there earns $46,140, which buys what $50,648 buys nationally once local prices are taken into account. Comparing a salary offer between cities without this adjustment is comparing nothing useful.
Is housing the reason?
Usually. Rents here are at 68.2 against goods at 96.8. Goods barely vary between American cities because most are shipped and priced nationally; housing varies enormously, and it dominates any cost of living comparison.