Housing Market Overview
The median home price (often called the average home price), rent costs, affordability metrics, and housing stock characteristics for this housing market.
Median Home Price Map: Nearby Counties
Housing Market Overview
| Metric | James City County | Virginia Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Price | $433,911 | $257,048 | $242,182 |
| Price Trend (Annual %) | 3.2% | 4.1% | 8.2% |
| Median Gross Rent | $1,490 | $1,514 | $1,342 |
| Rent Trend (Annual %) | 3.2% | 4.2% | 5.1% |
| Household Income Trend (Annual %) | — | — | — |
The median home price in James City County is about 69% higher than in Virginia. Rent is about 2% lower than the Virginia average.
Median Home and Rent Price Trends
Median Home Prices, 2015-2023
Median Rent Prices, 2015-2023
Both home prices and rent are rising in James City County, up about 3.2% and 3.2% a year respectively. Home prices are changing faster.
Median rent in James City County rose about 28.6% between 2015 and 2023, from $1,158 to $1,490. Over the same span, rent in Virginia rose about 35.7%.
Affordability
On average, housing unit costs 4.0 yearly household incomes in James City County.
Buying the median-priced home in James City County costs roughly 24.3 years of rent at the median monthly rate. That is a relatively high price-to-rent ratio, which tends to favor renting over buying in James City County. The price-to-rent ratio in Virginia is about 14.2.
| Metric | James City County | Virginia Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Price | $433,911 | $257,048 | $242,182 |
| Median Household Income | $108,206 | $91,409 | $78,145 |
| Price-to-Income Ratio | 4.0 | 2.8 | 3.1 |
Home Prices vs Income Over Time
Between 2015 and 2023, the median home price in James City County rose about 19.9%, while median household income rose about 50.0% between 2009 and 2023 — income grew faster than the home price.
Income Growth vs Housing Cost Growth (Year-over-Year %)
Compare income and housing cost trends.
Occupancy & Tenure
| Metric | James City County | Virginia Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homeownership Rate | 71.9% | 61.1% | 58.2% |
| Rental Rate | 19.3% | 29.9% | 31.3% |
| Vacancy Rate | 8.9% | 9.0% | 10.6% |
| Median Tenure (years) | 14.0 | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Median Year Moved In | 2012 | 2011 | 2011 |
James City County has a homeownership rate of 71.9%, higher than the Virginia average of 61.1%. Its housing vacancy rate is 8.9%, compared with 9.0% in Virginia.
Housing Stock
| Metric | James City County | Virginia Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Household Size | 2.51 people | 2.53 people | 2.54 people |
| Median Structure Built Year | 1993 | 1981 | 1978 |
| Median Number of Rooms | 6.7 | 6.0 | 5.5 |
The typical housing unit in James City County was built around 1993. On average, 2.5 people live in a home with about 6.7 rooms, staying for about 14.0 years on average.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the housing market in James City County, Virginia.
What is the median home price in James City County, Virginia?
The median home price in James City County, Virginia is $433,911, higher than the Virginia average of $257,048.
What is the average home price in James City County, Virginia?
The typical home price in %s, reported as the median sale price, is %s. The median is used instead of a mathematical average because it is not skewed by a small number of very expensive or very cheap homes, so it better reflects what a typical buyer pays.
What is the median rent in James City County, Virginia?
The median gross rent in James City County, Virginia is $1,490 per month, lower than the Virginia average of $1,514.
What was the median gross rent in James City County in 2020?
In 2020, the median gross rent in James City County, Virginia was $1,242 per month.
What is the price-to-rent ratio in James City County, Virginia?
The price-to-rent ratio in James City County, Virginia is about 24.3, meaning it would take roughly 24.3 years of rent payments at the median rent to equal the median home price. That is a relatively high price-to-rent ratio, which tends to favor renting over buying in James City County.
Are home prices or rent rising faster in James City County, Virginia?
Both home prices and rent are rising in James City County, up about 3.2% and 3.2% a year respectively. Home prices are changing faster.
What is the homeownership rate in James City County, Virginia?
71.9% of households in James City County, Virginia own their home, higher than the Virginia average of 61.1%.
What is the vacancy rate in James City County, Virginia?
The housing vacancy rate in James City County, Virginia is 8.9%, lower than the Virginia average of 9.0%.