B-
13%
Overall NAT. AVG.
1%
Groceries NAT. AVG.
44%
Housing NAT. AVG.
Date & Last Updated: These cost of living estimates reflect 2026 modeled data using U.S. Census housing inputs and AI-assisted city-level pricing models.
The cost of living index is based on a national average of 100. For example, if the cost of living score is 90, then the estimated cost of living is 10% lower than the national average. If the score is 110, then the estimated cost of living is 10% higher than average. The overall index is calculated using weighted estimates across major everyday expense categories, including housing (30%), groceries (16%), transportation (12%), healthcare (10%), utilities (8%), lifestyle and entertainment (8%), household expenses (8%), and education and childcare (8%). All values are AI-assisted city-level estimates designed for directional comparisons.
Index Willow Grove Pennsylvania National
Cost of living11397100
Groceries99100100
Health care9999100
Housing14490100
Transportation102101100
Utilities10199100
Lifestyle & Entertainment98100100
Household Items10199100
Education & Childcare99101100
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An Overview of Cost of Living in Willow Grove, PA

Understanding the cost of living in Willow Grove can help future residents assess whether their current financial situation aligns with the expenses they will encounter. It enables them to plan for potential changes in their budget and lifestyle. The Willow Grove cost of living index is 113, which is 13% higher than the national average. The cost of living index is calculated by taking into account multiple categories, which encompass both the cost of everyday expenditures and larger expenses as well.

Housing costs significantly influence the Willow Grove cost of living index, typically accounting for a substantial portion of one's post-tax income. Regrettably, within this particular region, expenses related to both residential ownership and renting exceeded those observed in an average city by 43.8%. This entails elements such as housing and rental prices, mortgage interest rates and insurance costs.

Is Willow Grove Affordable?

Is Willow Grove 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 Willow Grove, the median home price is 45.4% higher than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 40.2% higher than the usual rates. Income levels in Willow Grove come in at $127,895, which is 57.2% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Willow Grove?

Groceries: The costs associated with groceries have witnessed substantial increases over the past 2-3 years. In select markets, food prices have escalated by more than 20% during this timeframe, whereas others have seen more restrained upticks. The variances in food expenses can exert a considerable influence on the overall cost of living in a given locale. In Willow Grove, the groceries index is 0.8% lower than the national average.

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 Willow Grove comes in at 1.2% higher than the national average.

Subsidies: Certain cities or states may institute government subsidies or assistance programs designed to alleviate the financial burdens associated with the cost of living for their residents. These programs encompass a variety of support mechanisms, including 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 farm subsidies. Areas that provide fewer subsidies may see an uptick in their overall cost of living.

Where is the Data From?

The Willow Grove 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 Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Willow Grove is 17% higher than the Pennsylvania average
  • The cost of living in Willow Grove is 13% higher than the national average
  • Willow Grove housing is 44% higher than the national average
  • Pennsylvania general sales tax is 18% higher than the national average
  • Pennsylvania state income tax is 18% higher than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Willow Grove

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Compare Willow Grove, PA Cost of Living

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      Median Income & Debt-To-Income Ratio

      Median Income Per Year Per Month Max Budget (28% DTI) Max Budget (36% DTI)
      Owners$144,065$12,005$3,361$4,322
      Renters$88,067$7,339$2,055$2,642
      A good way to judge both the affordability of the housing and the cost of living in Willow Grove 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. Willow Grove has a median income of about $144,065 for people who own homes. Based on that number, a maximum of $3,361 should be spent on expenses related to housing. Renters have a slightly different median income, which is $88,067. Based on this average, renters should spend no more than $2,055 on all rental costs if they want to maintain a non-impoverished standard of living.

      Pennsylvania Sales Tax

      State General Sales Tax With Max Surtax
      Pennsylvania 6% 8%

      Pennsylvania Income Tax

      State Income Tax (Low) Income Tax (High)
      Pennsylvania 3.07% 3.07%

      Nearby cities with low cost of living

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Arcadia University, PA6091000.1%
      Newtown CDP, PA2588515.4%
      Camden, NJ76,587964.4%
      Yeadon, PA11,936963.8%
      Beverly, NJ2,474954.9%
      Willow Grove, PA13,17911313.1%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Tehachapi, CA13,17911817.7%
      Gaffney, SC13,1798712.9%
      Glendale, WI13,1791055.3%
      Harrison, OH13,180946.0%
      Crowley, LA13,176918.8%
      Willow Grove, PA13,17911313.1%
      Date & Last Updated: These cost of living estimates reflect 2026 modeled data using U.S. Census housing inputs and AI-assisted city-level pricing models.