Home / Home Buying by state / Virginia / Stafford County

Buying a home in Stafford County, Virginia

The typical owner-occupied home in Stafford County is worth about $485,100, 26% above the Virginia median of $383,700 and 46% above the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $3,410 a year in property taxes, about 0.70% of their home's value, close to the Virginia rate of 0.73%. The median household earns $137,807 a year, so the median home costs 3.5 times the median income (4.1 times for Virginia). 80% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 78% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Stafford County at a glance

Stafford County Virginia U.S.
Median home value $485,100 $383,700 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $3,410 $2,790 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 0.70% 0.73% 0.94%
Median household income $137,807 $93,170 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 80% 67% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 78% 67% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $2,545 $2,127 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 19.3% 20.1% 21.0%
Median rent $2,020 $1,579 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 28.5% 29.4% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1997 1984 1980
Vacant homes 4.3% 8.7% 10.1%
Population 163,466 8,705,170 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in Stafford County

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Stafford County home of $485,100 with 20% down costs about $3,096 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $3,904, 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 $132,675 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 27% of the median Stafford County household income of $137,807; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $504,000.

The median rent here is $2,020 a month, so owning the median home costs about $1,076 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$97,020
Loan amount$388,080
Principal and interest$2,611
Property taxes (0.70% a year)$283
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$202
PMI$0
Total per month$3,096

Change the numbers in the calculator

3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$16,978
Loan amount$476,314
Principal and interest$3,204
Property taxes (0.70% a year)$283
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$202
FHA mortgage insurance$215
Total per month$3,904

Change the numbers in the calculator

Questions about home buying in Stafford County

What is the median home value in Stafford County?

About $485,100 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in Stafford County?

Homeowners pay a median $3,410 a year, which is about 0.70% 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 Stafford County?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $3,096 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $132,675 a year.

More about Stafford 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