| Index | Eden | North Carolina | National |
| Cost of living | 88 | 96 | 100 |
| Groceries | 102 | 100 | 100 |
| Health care | 105 | 99 | 100 |
| Housing | 53 | 88 | 100 |
| Transportation | 103 | 99 | 100 |
| Utilities | 102 | 99 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 102 | 100 | 100 |
| Household Items | 104 | 100 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 107 | 100 | 100 |
Knowing the cost of living in Eden allows individuals to create a realistic budget. This helps them understand how their income will cover expenses and whether they need to make financial adjustments. The cost of living in any region can fluctuate due to various factors. To assess the cost of living consistently across different areas, a national average of 100 serves as the basis for the cost of living index. The cost of living in Eden stands at 88, marking it 12% lower than the national average.
Eden housing costs are 46.6% less than the national average, making this area an affordable place to live. Your net income can be heavily impacted by housing expenses, at times exceeding 30%. Fortunately, this area demonstrates that both homeownership and renting costs are significantly more budget-friendly than in the rest of the country. With such favorable housing affordability, Eden residents can earmark a more manageable portion of their income to housing.
The most insightful perspective on a city comes from its residents. We recently surveyed 5 locals to gauge their perception of the cost of living in Eden. The feedback revealed that 100% of respondents found the cost of living to be reasonable, with prices on the decline, while 0% regarded it as notably expensive with prices that continue to rise.
Is Eden 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 Eden, for instance, where the median home price falls 52.5% lower than the national average, and monthly rent rates are 32.8% lower than usual. Additionally, median income levels contribute to the equation, with Eden flaunting a median household income of $58,507, 28.1% lower than the national norm.
Healthcare: Healthcare costs and insurance premiums can fluctuate greatly based on the city or state. Access to healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for doctor\’s visits, dentist costs, medication costs and specialized care costs can all impact the cost of living. In Eden, the healthcare costs are 4.7% higher than the national average.
Groceries: Grocery prices have seen substantial hikes in the last 2-3 years, with some markets witnessing food cost increases of over 20% during this period. Conversely, certain markets have experienced only moderate upticks. These variations in food expenses can have a substantial impact on the overall cost of living in any locality. In Eden, the groceries index is 2.3% higher than the national average.
Urbanization: Urban areas with a wealth of amenities and employment opportunities tend to come with a higher price tag for living. Why? Well, more people want to be there, which drives up home prices and rents. On the flip side, less densely populated rural areas or places where there's not as much demand usually mean fewer attractions, things to do and slower job growth. That often results in a lower cost of living.
The cost of living data for Eden shown above is based on a U.S. average baseline score of 100, making it easier to compare how far your dollar may go from one city to another. Housing uses U.S. Census home price and rental data, while all remaining values are AI-assisted estimates informed by regional pricing, climate, transportation dynamics, and local economic factors. These scores are best used for directional comparisons between cities.
| Cost of living index | |
| Groceries index | |
| Health care index | |
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| Transportation index | |
| Utilities index | |
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| Household index | |
| Educare index |
| Median Income | Per Year | Per Month | Max Budget (28% DTI) | Max Budget (36% DTI) |
| Owners | $72,330 | $6,028 | $1,688 | $2,170 |
| Renters | $41,060 | $3,422 | $958 | $1,232 |
| State | General Sales Tax | With Max Surtax |
| North Carolina | 4.75% | 7.5% |
| State | Income Tax (Low) | Income Tax (High) |
| North Carolina | 4.75% | 4.75% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Mayodan, NC | 2,430 | 86 | 14.4% |
| Martinsville, VA | 13,146 | 88 | 12.4% |
| Fieldale, VA | 1,125 | 88 | 12.1% |
| Sandy Level, VA | 744 | 90 | 10.3% |
| Ruffin, NC | 481 | 90 | 9.7% |
| Eden, NC | 15,455 | 88 | 11.6% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Laurinburg, NC | 15,444 | 89 | 11.2% |
| North Fair Oaks, CA | 15,443 | 221 | 120.9% |
| Hayden, ID | 15,469 | 113 | 13.2% |
| Stone Ridge, VA | 15,427 | 153 | 52.6% |
| New Cassel, NY | 15,487 | 140 | 39.7% |
| Eden, NC | 15,455 | 88 | 11.6% |
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