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Buying a home in James City County, Virginia

The typical owner-occupied home in James City County is worth about $447,200, 17% above the Virginia median of $383,700 and 34% above the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $2,901 a year in property taxes, about 0.65% of their home's value, lower than the Virginia rate of 0.73%. The median household earns $109,985 a year, so the median home costs 4.1 times the median income (4.1 times for Virginia). 77% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 67% of those owners still have a mortgage.

James City County at a glance

James City County Virginia U.S.
Median home value $447,200 $383,700 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $2,901 $2,790 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 0.65% 0.73% 0.94%
Median household income $109,985 $93,170 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 77% 67% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 67% 67% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $2,179 $2,127 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 20.8% 20.1% 21.0%
Median rent $1,552 $1,579 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 33.7% 29.4% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1997 1984 1980
Vacant homes 7.9% 8.7% 10.1%
Population 81,013 8,705,170 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in James City County

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median James City County home of $447,200 with 20% down costs about $2,835 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $3,580, because the loan is bigger and FHA adds mortgage insurance.

Lenders usually want housing costs under about 28% of gross income, which means an income of roughly $121,510 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 31% of the median James City County household income of $109,985; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $405,000.

The median rent here is $1,552 a month, so owning the median home costs about $1,283 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$89,440
Loan amount$357,760
Principal and interest$2,407
Property taxes (0.65% a year)$242
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$186
PMI$0
Total per month$2,835

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3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$15,652
Loan amount$439,100
Principal and interest$2,954
Property taxes (0.65% a year)$242
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$186
FHA mortgage insurance$198
Total per month$3,580

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Questions about home buying in James City County

What is the median home value in James City County?

About $447,200 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in James City County?

Homeowners pay a median $2,901 a year, which is about 0.65% of the median home value. Your bill depends on your home's assessed value and local rates.

What income do you need to buy a home in James City County?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $2,835 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $121,510 a year.

More about James City County

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week of November 12, 2026. Estimates for small places have wide margins of error. About our data