| Index | Stafford | Texas | National |
| Cost of living | 103 | 94 | 100 |
| Groceries | 101 | 98 | 100 |
| Health care | 99 | 98 | 100 |
| Housing | 112 | 83 | 100 |
| Transportation | 98 | 98 | 100 |
| Utilities | 103 | 103 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 98 | 98 | 100 |
| Household Items | 98 | 98 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 100 | 98 | 100 |
Are you thinking about relocating, but curious about the potential cost of living in Stafford? Is it more expensive or more affordable than average? Based on the most recent report, the cost of living in Stafford stands at 103, making it 3% higher 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.
In Stafford, daily expenses such as food, housing, lifestyle expenses, transportation and health care are in line with comparable areas and about average when compared to all cities across the nation. This ensures that the cost of living in Stafford will resemble that of an average city, contributing to a manageable cost of living.
Is Stafford 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 Stafford, for instance, where the median home price falls 6.3% higher than the national average, and monthly rent rates are 26.4% higher than usual. Additionally, median income levels contribute to the equation, with Stafford flaunting a median household income of $100,118, 23.1% higher than the national norm.
Utilities: Like everything else, utilities costs can range significantly depending on factors like climate, energy sources available, location and even state regulations. Things like electricity, water, heating and waste disposal costs can be higher or lower, depending on the city or state. The utilities index in Stafford comes in at 3.1% higher than the national average.
Urbanization: Larger, urban hubs brimming with ample amenities and robust employment opportunities often showcase a heightened cost of living. This surge is primarily attributed to the amplified demand for services and increased residential migration, culminating in elevated home prices and elevated rental rates. Conversely, less densely populated rural locales or regions characterized by reduced demand tend to offer a more limited array of amenities and undergo slower job market growth, ultimately yielding a more affordable cost of living.
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 Stafford, healthcare costs are 0.9% lower than the national average.
The Stafford cost of living estimates above use a normalized U.S. average of 100 as the baseline for comparison. Housing values incorporate local home price and rental information from the U.S. Census, while all other estimates are AI-assisted and modeled using expected everyday expenses, local market trends, climate, and transportation-related cost pressures. The results are intended for practical city-to-city comparisons.
| Cost of living index | |
| Groceries index | |
| Health care index | |
| Housing index | |
| Transportation index | |
| Utilities index | |
| Lifestyle index | |
| Household index | |
| Educare index |
| Median Income | Per Year | Per Month | Max Budget (28% DTI) | Max Budget (36% DTI) |
| Owners | $118,020 | $9,835 | $2,754 | $3,541 |
| Renters | $82,110 | $6,843 | $1,916 | $2,464 |
| State | General Sales Tax | With Max Surtax |
| Texas | 6.25% | 8.25% |
| State | Income Tax (Low) | Income Tax (High) |
| Texas | 0% | 0% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Fifth Street, TX | 2,256 | 82 | 17.9% |
| Fairchilds, TX | 728 | 92 | 8.4% |
| Arcola, TX | 2,636 | 92 | 7.6% |
| Richmond, TX | 13,080 | 99 | 0.8% |
| Thompsons, TX | 304 | 99 | 1.3% |
| Stafford, TX | 17,266 | 103 | 3.4% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Knightdale, NC | 17,266 | 109 | 8.6% |
| Sunnyside, WA | 17,266 | 102 | 1.6% |
| Mount Vernon, OH | 17,264 | 88 | 11.8% |
| Southbridge Town, MA | 17,257 | 116 | 15.9% |
| Tahlequah, OK | 17,253 | 89 | 10.8% |
| Stafford, TX | 17,266 | 103 | 3.4% |
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