An Overview of Cost of Living in Lexington, NC
Are you thinking about relocating, but curious about the potential cost of living in Lexington? Is it more expensive or more affordable than average? Based on the most recent report, the cost of living in Lexington stands at 85, making it 15% 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.
Is Lexington Affordable?
Is Lexington affordable? It's a key consideration when pondering a move, as affordability often shapes your choices. The cost of living index (we discussed it earlier), coupled with housing costs and income levels, serves as the cornerstone for determining a location's affordability. Take Lexington, for instance, where the median home price falls 43.4% lower than the national average, and monthly rent rates are 25.2% lower than usual. Additionally, median income levels contribute to the equation, with Lexington flaunting a median household income of $30,366, 45.1% lower than the national norm.
What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Lexington?
Healthcare: The costs associated with healthcare and insurance premiums can exhibit notable disparities based on the city or state of residence. Access to healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for medical appointments, dental care charges, prescription medication costs and specialized medical care expenses all contribute to variations in the cost of living. In Lexington, healthcare costs are 18.4% higher than the national average.
Transportation: If public transportation is limited or not available, residents may need to own and maintain vehicles, which can add to the cost of living. Gas, insurance, regular maintenance and potentially lease or finance payments will all need to be paid on a monthly basis. In Lexington, the transportation index is 21.8% 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 Lexington, the housing index comes in at 37.9% lower than the national average.
Where is the Data From?
The Lexington 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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