New Kent County, VA vs Scott County, VA: Cost of Living Difference

Is it cheaper?

Scott County, VA is cheaper than New Kent County, VA.

Moving to Scott County, VA is estimated to save $29,424 per year.

Cheaper cost of living

Cheaper County

Scott County, VASave about $29,424 per year.

Salary needed

$50,000 in New Kent County, VA is about $29,075 in Scott County, VA.

Biggest drivers

Healthcare increases by $174 per year. Housing saves $13,870 per year.

Housing: $13,870 lower in Scott County, VA

Taxes: $8,918 lower in Scott County, VA

Childcare: about the same in both counties

Healthcare: $174 higher in Scott County, VA

Food: $485 lower in Scott County, VA

Transport: $1,869 lower in Scott County, VA

New Kent County, VAScott County, VA
Equivalent salary in Scott County, VA
$29,075
-41.85% lower
Current salary: $50,000
Household: 1 adult · 0 children
Median Income in New Kent County, VA: $127,429
Median Income in Scott County, VA: $64,908
Living Index in New Kent County, VA 55.17%
Living Index in Scott County, VA 62.98%

This estimate matches your purchasing power (equivalent salary) when moving from New Kent County, VA to Scott County, VA.

* Living index is estimated as (estimated total cost / area median income) * 100. A living index above 100% means modeled costs exceed median income.

Cost of Living Breakdown by Category

Summary

Moving from New Kent County, VA to Scott County, VA is estimated to save $29,424 per year. A $50,000 salary in New Kent County, VA would have similar purchasing power to about $29,075 in Scott County, VA. The largest savings come from housing and taxes.

This is a -41.85% decrease in modeled annual costs. Housing is $13,870 per year lower (-65.69%); Taxes is $8,918 per year lower (-53.08%).

Below we break down the annual categories behind the difference using Economic Policy Institute 2026 Family Budget data.

Why this comparison matters

These notes use the actual annual cost differences between New Kent County, VA and Scott County, VA, so the page highlights the budget tradeoffs behind the total.

Salary needed

A $50,000 salary in New Kent County, VA would need to be about $29,075 in Scott County, VA, or $20,925 less, to match the modeled cost ratio.

Affordability vs median income

Modeled annual costs equal about 55.2% of median family income in New Kent County, VA and 63.0% in Scott County, VA. This matters because a cheaper county can still feel tight if typical local incomes are also lower.

Housing

Housing is $13,870 per year lower in Scott County, VA than in New Kent County, VA. Housing usually behaves like a fixed monthly commitment, so this matters most for renters or buyers checking whether Scott County, VA changes their baseline budget.

Food

Food is $485 per year lower in Scott County, VA than in New Kent County, VA. Food costs affect weekly cash flow, so even a smaller annual gap in Scott County, VA can show up quickly for households that cook most meals at home.

Transportation

Transportation is $1,869 per year lower in Scott County, VA than in New Kent County, VA. Transportation matters for commuters because driving distance, vehicle costs, and transit access can change how much of a salary is left after getting around Scott County, VA.

Healthcare

Healthcare is $174 per year higher in Scott County, VA than in New Kent County, VA. Healthcare differences are useful for planning premiums and out-of-pocket exposure, especially if Scott County, VA changes provider networks or plan options.

Other necessities

Other necessities is $4,457 per year lower in Scott County, VA than in New Kent County, VA. Other necessities cover everyday basics, so changes in Scott County, VA help explain the non-housing costs that can quietly add up month after month.

Childcare

Childcare is about the same in New Kent County, VA and Scott County, VA, so this category is not a major driver of the modeled gap. Childcare is most important for households with children; in Scott County, VA, this line can swing the result even when housing or taxes look manageable.

Taxes

Taxes is $8,918 per year lower in Scott County, VA than in New Kent County, VA. Taxes affect take-home pay, so the gap in Scott County, VA matters even if the headline salary looks similar before deductions.

What changed the most?

The following cards show the annual category differences that most affect the move to Scott County, VA.

Biggest Cost
Largest annual cost increase when moving to Scott County, VA
Annual Increase:

$174 per year

HEALTHCARE has the largest annual increase when moving to Scott County, VA.

Biggest Savings
Largest annual savings when moving to Scott County, VA
Annual Savings:

$13,870 per year

HOUSING has the largest annual savings when moving to Scott County, VA.

Breakdown of price percentages per category.

Numbers are average costs per section.

CategoryDifference
Housing-66% lower
Food-11% lower
Transport-12% lower
Healthcare4% higher
Other Costs-56% lower
Childcare0% higher
Taxes-53% lower

In Scott County, VA, modeled annual costs are $40,882 compared with $70,306 in New Kent County, VA.

Overall, annual costs are lower in Scott County, VA. The category breakdown above shows where the move creates the most room in the budget.

In this case Scott County, VA and New Kent County, VA are both metropolitan locations.

Use our map to visually compare multiple counties at once.

View county cost breakdowns

See county rankings

Compare nearby counties

Cost of living methodology and data sources
New Kent County, VA vs Scott County, VA Cost of Living (2026)