Salary needed
A $50,000 salary in Stafford County, VA would need to be about $29,705 in Carroll County, VA, or $20,295 less, to match the modeled cost ratio.
Stafford County, VA vs Carroll County, VA: Cost of Living Difference
Is it cheaper?
Carroll County, VA is cheaper than Stafford County, VA.
Moving to Carroll County, VA is estimated to save $29,858 per year.
Cheaper County
Carroll County, VASave about $29,858 per year.Salary needed
$50,000 in Stafford County, VA is about $29,705 in Carroll County, VA.
Biggest drivers
Healthcare increases by $185 per year. Housing saves $14,901 per year.
Housing: $14,901 lower in Carroll County, VA
Taxes: $9,336 lower in Carroll County, VA
Childcare: about the same in both counties
Healthcare: $185 higher in Carroll County, VA
Food: $543 lower in Carroll County, VA
Transport: $471 lower in Carroll County, VA
Stafford County, VA→Carroll County, VA
Equivalent salary in Carroll County, VA
$29,705
-40.59% lower
Current salary: $50,000
Household: 1 adult · 0 children
Median Income in Stafford County, VA: $148,238
Median Income in Carroll County, VA: $67,491
Living Index in Stafford County, VA 49.62%
Living Index in Carroll County, VA 64.75%
This estimate matches your purchasing power (equivalent salary) when moving from Stafford County, VA to Carroll 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 Stafford County, VA to Carroll County, VA is estimated to save $29,858 per year. A $50,000 salary in Stafford County, VA would have similar purchasing power to about $29,705 in Carroll County, VA. The largest savings come from housing and taxes.
This is a -40.59% decrease in modeled annual costs. Housing is $14,901 per year lower (-63.96%); Taxes is $9,336 per year lower (-52.05%).
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 Stafford County, VA and Carroll County, VA, so the page highlights the budget tradeoffs behind the total.
Affordability vs median income
Modeled annual costs equal about 49.6% of median family income in Stafford County, VA and 64.7% in Carroll County, VA. This matters because a cheaper county can still feel tight if typical local incomes are also lower.
Housing
Housing is $14,901 per year lower in Carroll County, VA than in Stafford County, VA. Housing usually behaves like a fixed monthly commitment, so this matters most for renters or buyers checking whether Carroll County, VA changes their baseline budget.
Food
Food is $543 per year lower in Carroll County, VA than in Stafford County, VA. Food costs affect weekly cash flow, so even a smaller annual gap in Carroll County, VA can show up quickly for households that cook most meals at home.
Transportation
Transportation is $471 per year lower in Carroll County, VA than in Stafford 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 Carroll County, VA.
Healthcare
Healthcare is $185 per year higher in Carroll County, VA than in Stafford County, VA. Healthcare differences are useful for planning premiums and out-of-pocket exposure, especially if Carroll County, VA changes provider networks or plan options.
Other necessities
Other necessities is $4,794 per year lower in Carroll County, VA than in Stafford County, VA. Other necessities cover everyday basics, so changes in Carroll County, VA help explain the non-housing costs that can quietly add up month after month.
Childcare
Childcare is about the same in Stafford County, VA and Carroll County, VA, so this category is not a major driver of the modeled gap. Childcare is most important for households with children; in Carroll County, VA, this line can swing the result even when housing or taxes look manageable.
Taxes
Taxes is $9,336 per year lower in Carroll County, VA than in Stafford County, VA. Taxes affect take-home pay, so the gap in Carroll 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 Carroll County, VA.
Biggest Cost
Largest annual cost increase when moving to Carroll County, VA
Annual Increase:
$185 per year
HEALTHCARE has the largest annual increase when moving to Carroll County, VA.
Biggest Savings
Largest annual savings when moving to Carroll County, VA
Annual Savings:
$14,901 per year
HOUSING has the largest annual savings when moving to Carroll County, VA.
Breakdown of price percentages per category.
Numbers are average costs per section.
| Category | Difference | |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | -64% lower | |
| Food | -12% lower | |
| Transport | -3% lower | |
| Healthcare | 4% higher | |
| Other Costs | -55% lower | |
| Childcare | 0% higher | |
| Taxes | -52% lower |
In Carroll County, VA, modeled annual costs are $43,700 compared with $73,558 in Stafford County, VA.
Overall, annual costs are lower in Carroll County, VA. The category breakdown above shows where the move creates the most room in the budget.
In this case Carroll County, VA is not a metropolitan location, while Stafford County, VA is a metropolitan location.
Use our map to visually compare multiple counties at once.
