Essex County, VA at a glance
Median household income
$56,520$4,710 per month · U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-YearHow much rent can you afford in Essex County, VA?
HUD’s fair market rent for each size, against what a typical household here earns. Change the income to see yours.
How much is rent in Essex County, VA? By bedroom, 2026
HUD's fiscal 2026 Fair Market Rents for Essex County, VA, with the income each one takes if rent stays under 30% of it.
| Unit Size | Monthly Rent | Annual Rent | 30% Rule Min. Income | % of Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / Efficiency | $907 | $10,884 | $36,280 | 19.3% |
| 1-Bedroom Apartment | $912 | $10,944 | $36,480 | 19.4% |
| 2-Bedroom ApartmentBenchmark | $1,113 | $13,356 | $44,520 | 23.6% |
| 3-Bedroom Home | $1,341 | $16,092 | $53,640 | 28.5% |
| 4-Bedroom Home | $1,556 | $18,672 | $62,240 | 33% |
What a typical income covers in Essex County, VA
The 50/30/20 rule applied to the local median of $56,520 a year ($4,710 a month before tax).
What $56,520 leaves after Virginia taxes
Federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and Virginia tax on the local median income. Change the salary to see yours.
Rent, jobs and pay in Virginia
Living in Essex County, VA: common questions
What is the median household income in Essex County, VA?
According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year survey, the median household income in Essex County, VA is $56,520 per year (approximately $4,710 per month).
What is the average rent in Essex County, VA?
The closest official figure is HUD's Fair Market Rent for 2026: $907 for a studio, $912 for one bedroom, $1,113 for two, $1,341 for three and $1,556 for four, utilities included.
It is not an average of listings. HUD sets it at the rent 40% of recent movers paid or less for a standard unit, so a new lease on a nicer place will usually cost more.
Is Essex County, VA expensive to live in?
Prices there run 1.1% above the U.S. average. BEA's regional price parity for Virginia is 101.1, where the U.S. is 100. Rent moves the number most: housing is where places differ, while goods cost about the same everywhere.
How much do you need to earn to comfortably afford rent in Essex County, VA?
To keep a $1,113 two-bedroom under 30% of gross income, a household needs about $44,520 a year, or $3,710 a month. That is 79% of what the typical household in Essex County, VA earns.
How much do you need to live comfortably in Essex County, VA?
On the local median income of $56,520 ($4,710 a month before tax), the 50/30/20 rule leaves $2,355 a month for needs like rent, utilities and groceries, $1,413 for everything else and $942 for savings or debt. A two-bedroom at $1,113 takes 47% of the needs share.
How much is the electric bill in Essex County, VA?
Homes in Virginia paid 17.2¢ per kWh on average (EIA). At 900 kWh a month, a typical use, that is about $155. Your bill depends mostly on heating and cooling.