D
22%
Overall NAT. AVG.
17%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
44%
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 Forestville Maryland National
Cost of living122119100
Goods & Services117106100
Groceries105106100
Health care11097100
Housing144150100
Transportation10698100
Utilities111111100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Forestville, MD

Getting a feel for the cost of living in Forestville is essential for anyone planning to relocate, as it empowers them to make informed financial decisions, secure a comfortable lifestyle and maintain financial stability in their new environment. The cost of living in Forestville is 122, which is 22% higher than the national average. Relocating individuals may need to adjust their savings and investment strategies based on the cost of living in the new location. It influences decisions about retirement planning, investments and financial goals.

If you're in pursuit of an economical living environment, Forestville may not fit the bill, as it ranks among the most expensive places to reside in the United States. Just a minority of regions exhibit a cost of living that is more than 20% higher than the national average, and, unfortunately, Forestville falls within this bracket.

Housing costs are a very significant part of the Forestville cost of living index and generally encompass a large percentage of take-home income. Unfortunately, in this area, the housing costs for both homes and rentals were 44.5% more than the average city. This includes things like home and rent prices, mortgage rates and insurance.

Goods and services make up 33% of the total cost of living index score and are a large part of your everyday expenses. These items could include things like haircuts, salons, toothpaste, shampoo, clothes, movies, bowling, gym memberships or yoga. In Forestville, you can expect to pay 16.6% more than average for these items, making it a more expensive place to live.

Is Forestville Affordable?

Is Forestville an affordable place to live? That's a valid question to ask when you're thinking about moving to a new city. After all, how much it costs to live somewhere can be a huge factor in your decision. Affordability can be broken down into 3 common categories. The cost of living index (we talked about it earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a big role in figuring out if a place is affordable. For instance, in Forestville, the median home price is 42% higher than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 50.2% higher than the usual rates. Income levels in Forestville come in at $64,082, which is 15.8% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Forestville?

Healthcare: Healthcare expenses and insurance premiums can vary significantly depending on the specific city or state. Factors such as accessibility to healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for doctor's visits, dental care expenses, prescription costs and specialized medical care fees can all influence the overall cost of living. In Forestville, healthcare costs are 10% higher than the national average.

Groceries: Over the past 2-3 years, grocery expenses have experienced substantial upward trends. In certain markets, food prices have surged by over 20% during this period, while others have witnessed more modest increases. These fluctuations in food costs can wield significant influence over the overall cost of living in a given region. In Forestville, the groceries index is 5.4% higher than the national average.

Subsidies: Some areas might offer government subsidies or assistance programs that help lower cost of living for residents. These programs can include anything from Medicare, Medicaid, housing subsidies, low-income home energy assistance programs, school lunch programs, supplemental nutrition assistance programs, student loans, electric vehicle tax credits, affordable care act subsidies and crop subsidies. Areas that offer less subsidies, could see an increase in their cost of living.

Where is the Data From?

The cost of living in Forestville, presented above is derived from the C2ER cost of living index, offering a practical method for assessing living cost disparities in urban areas. Published quarterly, this index compiles data from more than 300 independent researchers, encompassing over 60 goods and services in 6 categories. The weightings assigned to cost variances are informed by government survey data tracking the expenditure patterns of professional and executive households. It should be noted that the C2ER index does not include data on sales or income tax rates, however, AreaVibes incorporates tax rates into the overall cost of living score for each area.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Forestville is 3% higher than the Maryland average
  • The cost of living in Forestville is 22% higher than the national average
  • Forestville housing is 44% higher than the national average
  • Maryland general sales tax is 18% higher than the national average
  • Maryland state income tax is 23% lower than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Forestville

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Compare Forestville, MD Cost of Living

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      Salary Calculator

      This is how much you would need to earn in
      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$72,279$6,023$1,686$2,169
      Renters$54,489$4,541$1,271$1,635
      A good way to judge both the affordability of the housing and the cost of living in Forestville is by simply calculating the maximum that should be spent on housing, otherwise known as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). The plan is to avoid spending more than 28 percent of the gross income on costs that pertain to housing and no more than 36 percent on all expenses and debts. Forestville has a median income of about $72,279 for people who own homes. Based on that number, a maximum of $1,686 should be spent on expenses related to housing. Renters have a slightly different median income, which is $54,489. Based on this average, renters should spend no more than $1,271 on all rental costs if they want to maintain a non-impoverished standard of living.

      Maryland Sales Tax

      State General Sales Tax With Max Surtax
      Maryland 6% 6%

      Maryland Income Tax

      State Income Tax (Low) Income Tax (High)
      Maryland 2% 5.75%

      Goods & Services

      Item Forestville National avg. Difference
      Haircut $41.31$24.2670.3%
      Beauty Salon $73.33$45.5660.9%
      Toothpaste $3.70$3.700.0%
      Shampoo $1.63$1.2827.4%
      Movie $15.72$12.1329.6%
      Bowling $24.56$18.0036.4%

      Groceries

      Item Forestville National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $5.72$5.842.1%
      Fried Chicken $1.31$1.5716.5%
      Milk $4.83$4.673.3%
      Potatoes $5.15$4.934.5%
      Pizza $12.83$12.096.2%
      Beer $11.41$10.419.6%

      Health Care

      Item Forestville National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $112.83$125.6810.2%
      Doctor $156.21$135.7815.0%
      Dentist $135.09$113.2919.2%
      Ibuprofen $12.28$10.6515.3%
      Lipitor $426.27$468.609.0%

      Housing

      Item Forestville National avg. Difference
      Home Price $262,300.00$184,700.0042.0%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $5,844.08$2,346.69149.0%
      Apartment Rent $1,425.00$949.0050.2%

      Transportation

      Item Forestville National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.37$3.462.7%
      Tire Balancing $75.27$59.9225.6%

      Utilities

      Item Forestville National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $227.70$193.9917.4%
      Phone $190.71$192.250.8%
      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.
      Cedarville, MD5771099.3%
      Rose Hill CDP (Lee County), VA708927.8%
      Woodlawn CDP (Carroll County), VA2,247945.9%
      Belle Haven town, VA5621022.0%
      Cottage City, MD1,1501088.4%
      Forestville, MD11,22412221.5%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Greensburg, IN11,2218910.6%
      Mack, OH11,2281098.6%
      Gloucester City, NJ11,229982.0%
      Webster, TX11,2291033.4%
      Grand Rapids, MN11,218972.9%
      Forestville, MD11,22412221.5%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.