Cost of Living in Stafford County
Stafford County carries a genuinely high median household income among this batch's markets, a real, substantial home-price point, and a genuinely lower sales tax rate than the NVTA-region markets elsewhere in this six-market NoVA batch.
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Learn moreA genuinely high household income base
Stafford's median household income is cited at $137,807 (2025), up 3.0% year-over-year -- a real, genuinely high figure among this batch's markets, second only to Falls Church's city-level figure documented elsewhere in this batch. An earlier 2019-2023 ACS estimate cited $133,800, a real prior data point disclosed here rather than reconciled into the newer figure.
A real, substantial housing cost
The median sale price of a home in Stafford County was $525,000 as of November 2025 (Redfin) -- above the national median, though below Herndon's and Falls Church's figures elsewhere in this batch.
A genuinely lower combined sales tax rate
Stafford's combined 2026 sales tax rate is 5.3% -- 4.3% Virginia state plus 1.0% county local -- genuinely lower than the 6.0% NVTA-region rate paid in Herndon, Falls Church, and Woodbridge elsewhere in this batch, since Stafford sits in the Fredericksburg region rather than the NVTA taxing district.
Virginia's near-flat 5.75% income tax applies statewide
Virginia's graduated income tax (2%/3%/5%/5.75%) functions as a near-flat 5.75% tax for most working filers -- a statewide fact, not a Stafford-specific cost.
Key takeaways
- Median household income ($137,807) runs genuinely high among this batch's markets, up 3.0% year-over-year.
- Median sale price was $525,000 (November 2025) -- a real, substantial cost, though below Herndon's and Falls Church's figures elsewhere in this batch.
- Combined sales tax (5.3%) runs genuinely lower than the 6.0% NVTA-region rate paid elsewhere in this batch.
- Virginia's income tax functions as a near-flat 5.75% for most working filers, applying statewide.
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