CitytisticsShortlist

Cost of living, pay and housing

37.52° N · 77.37° W · GEOID 5152904

Montrose

Henrico County, Virginia · part of the Richmond, VA metro

VirginiaMontrose, VAMontroseMontrose

The short answer

Montrose is home to 8,285 people. Median household income is $49,550 a year and median rent is $1,297 a month, 31.4% of income (a ratio of two medians, not any one household's burden). That is above the usual 30% line for cost burden. The median home is valued at $194,100, about 3.9x annual median household income.

What sets Montrose apart is how tight household budgets are. After the median rent, with other prices set to the US average, the median household keeps about $34,800 a year, less than in 94% of places its size. It is the lowest of 176 Virginia places we track. Also notable: Owning with a mortgage costs about $159 a month less than the median rent, a rarer pattern than in 97% of places its size. It is the 3rd-lowest of 194 Virginia places we track.

19OF 100

CTXCitytistics Index

Weak

Montrose scores better than 19% of the 6,612 places we rate, and ranks 174th of 190 in Virginia.

How the CTX is built

Category ratings · 0 to 100, typical place 50

Affordability 20%25
Economy 20%38
Safety 20%n/a
Amenities 15%33
Education 10%22
Commute 10%84
Growth 5%n/a

Not rated: safety, growth, for want of data (the city police department does not report a full year to the FBI). The other weights are spread over the categories rated.

Median gross rent
$1,297
5% below the median place
Median household income
$49,550
38% below the median place
Median home value
$194,100
39% below the median place
Unemployment
4.2%
15% below the median place

Compared with the median of the 6,645 places we track. The bundle was checked 2026-11-14; each measure may refer to an older release.

What stands out about Montrose

  • Housing38% of homes are owner-occupied, fewer than in 97% of the 2,476 places under 10,000 people we track.
01

Moving to Montrose

Henrico County loses about 1.7 residents per 1,000 a year to moves between counties.

Moved in20,200
Moved out20,663
Net−463

Where people come from and where they go, top counties

Richmond city, VA5,4613,903+1,558
Chesterfield County, VA2,2973,354−1,057
Hanover County, VA1,2361,944−708
Goochland County, VA353915−562
New Kent County, VA198380−182

Within Virginia, other states or abroad

Arrivals
Leavers
Within VirginiaOther statesAbroad

Income per tax return

Arrivals$75K
Leavers$82K

People on tax returns who moved between counties, from IRS migration data, 2022 to 2023. Figures are for all of Henrico County; flows under 20 returns are not published.

Who moves here
6.1% of residents arrived from another county in the past year, 1.9% from another state.
Who arrives and who leaves
Households moving into Henrico County report $75,200 a year in income on average; those leaving, $82,500, so leavers earn more than newcomers.
Income you would need
$51,900 a year to rent the median home at the 30% line. From your city
Rent or buy
Median rent is $1,297 a month; owners with a mortgage pay $1,138 a month including taxes and insurance, on a median home of $194,100.
Getting to work
19 minutes each way on average; 6.4% work from home.
If it is close but not quite
Pulaski, TN matches it on character for less of your income. Compare the two
Moved here in the past year1
6.1%
6% above the median place
Income of households moving out6
$82,470
17% above the median place
Income of households moving in6
$75,190
7% above the median place
All 5 moving measures
MeasureMontroseAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Moved here in the past year16.1%6% above
Moved from another state1County figure1.9%6% below
Net movers per 1,000 people6County figure-1.7183% below
Income of households moving in6County figure$75,1907% above
Income of households moving out6County figure$82,47017% above
02

What it costs to live here

The median rent takes 31.4% of the median household's income, a bigger share than in 96% of the 2,480 places under 10,000 people we track.

Montrose31.4%
Typical place20.4%

Share of the median household income that goes to the median rent. Above 30% is the usual stress line.

Income needed to rent
$51,880
a year, at the 30% line
Rent to income
31.4%
54% above the median place
Home price to income
3.9x
3% above the median place

Could you afford it?

The median rent would take
31%
over the 30% line
Left after rent, in US prices
$35,300
a year
Vs the typical household here
Same
as the median household

Uses the median rent in Montrose, $1,297 a month, and local prices for everything else (97.6 against a US average of 100). It runs in your browser and stores nothing.

Like Montrose, but easier on the budget

Places that match Montrose on character (size, age, education, homeownership, household size, housing age, remote work and climate) but where rent takes a clearly smaller share of income. Cost was left out of the match on purpose.

PlaceMatchRent to incomeMore left a year
Pulaski, TN9720.6% vs 31.4%n/aCompare
Laurens, SC9520.3% vs 31.4%$5,800Compare
Greenville, AL9521.5% vs 31.4%n/aCompare
Glasgow, KY9523.7% vs 31.4%n/aCompare

Moving from somewhere else? Work out the salary you would need in Montrose.

Sponsored · exampleMoving to Montrose? Compare quotes from licensed movers. No partner is signed yet. Sponsored offers are always labelled and never change the data.
Homeownership1
37.7%
43% below the median place
Owner costs with a mortgage1
$1,138
39% below the median place
Property tax paid (median)1
$1,357
58% below the median place
All 15 cost and housing measures
MeasureMontroseAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Median gross rent1$1,2975% below
Rent to income131.4%54% above
Property tax rate10.7%23% below
Home price to income13.9x3% above
Prices vs US average2Metro figure97.93% below
Fair market rent, 2 bedrooms3County figure$1,6512% above
Property tax paid (median)1$1,35758% below
Median home value1$194,10039% below
Home prices, 1-year change4County figure4.9%55% above
Home prices, 5-year change4County figure56.8%10% above
Homeownership137.7%43% below
Renters paying 30%+157.5%14% above
Owner costs with a mortgage1$1,13839% below
Vacant homes1County figure5.2%26% below
Median year built119790% above
03

Work and pay

OpenStreetMap shows 6.5 bus and rail stops per square mile, more than in 90% of the 2,480 places under 10,000 people we track.

Median household income1
$49,550
38% below the median place
Works from home1
6.4%
48% below the median place
Poverty rate1
19.9%
85% above the median place

More on work and pay, against the typical place

Mean commute19 min −23%
Income per person$30,669 −23%
Unemployment4.2% −15%
All 10 work and pay measures
MeasureMontroseAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Median household income1$49,55038% below
Income per person1$30,66923% below
Unemployment14.2%15% below
Average annual pay5County figure$73,26011% above
Pay growth, 1 year5County figure3.9%5% above
Jobs5County figure193,23228% above
Poverty rate119.9%85% above
Mean commute119 min23% below
Works from home16.4%48% below
Commutes by transit1County figure0.9%4% above
04

Who lives here

High school or higher is 85.2%, 8% below the median place.

High school or higher1
85.2%
8% below the median place
Household size1
2.3
10% below the median place
Born abroad1
4.0%
55% below the median place

More about who lives here, against the typical place

Homes with broadband88.1% −5%
Bachelor's or higher20.7% −35%
No health insurance8.9% +39%
Median age39.9 +2%
All 8 people measures
MeasureMontroseAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Population18,2854818th largest
Median age139.92% above
Bachelor's or higher120.7%35% below
High school or higher185.2%8% below
Household size12.310% below
Born abroad14.0%55% below
No health insurance18.9%39% above
Homes with broadband188.1%5% below
05

Life in Montrose

OpenStreetMap shows 0 parks per 10,000 residents, fewer than in 95% of the 2,480 places under 10,000 people we track. It is the lowest of 195 Virginia places we track.

37 sites are on the National Register of Historic Places, one of them a National Historic Landmark. Its history on Wikipedia

Out the door, against the typical place

Parks per 10k residents0.0 −100%
Playgrounds per 10k7.2 −23%
Grocery stores per 10k2.4 +14%
Restaurants, cafes and bars per 10k14.5 +30%
Libraries per 10k0.0 −100%
Named paths and bike trails0 km −100%
Bus and rail stops per sq mi6.5 31.0×

Mapped by volunteers in OpenStreetMap inside the city limits (Census boundaries), so coverage is fuller in some places than others. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

National Park Service sites nearby

  • Maggie L. Walker National Historic Site 4 miles
  • Richmond National Battlefield Park 6 miles
  • Petersburg National Battlefield 21 miles

Businesses per 10,000 residents (county figures)

Restaurants and bars21.1 +1%
Shops34.1 +13%
Arts, recreation and fitness5.1 +24%
Doctors' offices and clinics27.1 +34%
Child care centers3.1 +35%

Counts businesses with paid staff, so small owner-run shops are not included.

Nearest National Park Service site9
3.9
87% below the median place
Doctors' offices and clinics per 10k7
27.1
34% above the median place
Public school students11
51,624
above the median place (median 4,897)
All 18 schools and local life measures
MeasureMontroseAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Public schools11County figure82above (median 9)
Public school students11County figure51,624above (median 4,897)
Students per teacher11County figure15.61% above
Restaurants and bars per 10k7County figure21.11% above
Shops per 10k7County figure34.113% above
Arts, recreation and fitness per 10k7County figure5.124% above
Doctors' offices and clinics per 10k7County figure27.134% above
Child care centers per 10k7County figure3.135% above
Parks per 10k80.0below (median 10.2)
Playgrounds per 10k87.223% below
Grocery stores per 10k82.414% above
Restaurants, cafes and bars per 10k814.530% above
Libraries per 10k80.0below (median 0.9)
Named paths and bike trails80.0below (median 2.0)
Transit stops per sq mi86.5above (median 0.2)
Nearest National Park Service site93.987% below
National Park Service sites within 60 miles97250% above
National Register listings10County figure37185% above
06

Safety, weather and risk

Wildfire risk is 34.5, 44% below the median place.

No crime figure yet. Either the city police department did not report to the FBI for the latest year, or our monthly fetch has not reached Montrose. Larger places are fetched first.

Wildfire risk13
34.5
44% below the median place
Median air quality index14
40
7% below the median place
Natural hazard risk13
83.4
10% below the median place
All 11 weather and risk measures
MeasureMontroseAmong 6,645 placesVs median
July average high12County figure89°F3% above
January average low12County figure28°F11% above
Average temperature12County figure59°F7% above
Annual precipitation12County figure46.5 in6% above
Natural hazard risk13County figure83.410% below
Hurricane risk13County figure81.816% above
Tornado risk13County figure81.01% below
Wildfire risk13County figure34.544% below
Heat wave risk13County figure87.92% below
Median air quality index14County figure407% below
Good air days14County figure75.8%11% above
08

Montrose in 2030: where the trends point

If recent trends hold, the median rent will take about 32% of the median income in 2030, about the same as 31% now.

Citytistics projections to 2030: each figure's own trend, blended with the typical trend across the places we rate, eased toward long-run US growth and carried forward from the latest release. The range is where 80% of places landed when we tested the same method on past releases. On projected 2030 affordability, Montrose does better than 24% of places. Its projected home value growth beats 80%.

MeasureLatest2030 projectionLikely rangeAvg. per year
Median rent$1,297/mo (2024)$1,660/mo$1,360 to $2,030/mo+4.2%
Median household income$49,550 (2024)$63,000$53,500 to $74,500+4.1%
Median home value$194,100 (2024)$285,000$207,000 to $393,000+6.6%

The median home would be worth 4.5 years of the median income in 2030, against 3.9 now.

A projection of recent trends, not a prediction of the economy or advice to buy or sell. How we project.

09

Places like Montrose

The closest matches on income, rent, home value, education and age, and the places nearby.

PlaceRentIncome
Orlovista, FL$1,408$46,938Compare
Worth, IL$1,169$56,288Compare
Dolton, IL$1,384$57,887Compare
Port Jervis, NY$1,260$47,917Compare
Port Jervis, NYDolton, ILWorth, ILOrlovista, FLMontrose, VAMontroseOrlovistaWorthDoltonPort JervisMontroseOrlovistaWorthDoltonPort Jervis

Places built like Montrose

Its statistical peers: the closest matches on size, age, education, homeownership, household size, housing age, origin and remote work, in the same part of the country. Cost and outcomes are left out of the match, so the table shows how Montrose performs against places like it.

PlaceRent to incomeIncome growthPop. change
Montrose, VA31.4%6.4%/yrn/a
Cambridge, MD26.8%1.9%/yr2.8%Compare
Laurens, SC20.3%3.9%/yr-0.1%Compare
Lake City, FL22.1%8.2%/yr3.6%Compare
Seaford, DE26.1%2.2%/yr15.5%Compare
Dentsville, SC33.0%3.3%/yrn/aCompare
Bellair-Meadowbrook Terrace, FL29.4%4.7%/yrn/aCompare

Common questions

Is Montrose a good place to live?

It depends on what you need, so here is what the numbers say. Its Citytistics Index is 19 out of 100, better than 19% of the places we rate and 174th of 190 in Virginia. 38% of homes are owner-occupied, fewer than in 97% of the 2,476 places under 10,000 people we track. On cost, space and class size it scores 2 out of 100 for families. See how it ranks with your own weights.

Is Montrose expensive to live in?

The median rent takes 31.4% of the median household income, against 20.4% in the typical place we track. Housing is a heavier load here than usual. The median home is valued at $194,100.

What salary do you need to live in Montrose?

To rent the median home without spending more than 30% of income on rent, a household needs about $51,880 a year. Work it out from your current city.

What places are similar to Montrose?

On income, rent, home value, education and age, the closest matches are Orlovista, FL, Worth, IL, Dolton, IL and Port Jervis, NY.

Sources and methods

The small numbers beside each measure point here. Every dataset is public; links go to the publisher.

  1. American Community Survey 5-year estimates · US Census Bureau · 2020 to 2024 estimatesTables B01002, B01003, B05002, B07003, B08013, B08301, B15003, B17001, B19013, B19301, B23025, B25002, B25003, B25010, B25035, B25064, B25070, B25077, B25088, B25103, B28002, S2701
  2. Regional Price Parities · US Bureau of Economic Analysis · Latest release, retrieved 2026-11-14
  3. Fair Market Rents · US Department of Housing and Urban Development · Fiscal year 2027
  4. House Price Index · Federal Housing Finance Agency · Latest release, retrieved 2026-11-14
  5. Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages · US Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2025 annual averages
  6. SOI Tax Stats, county-to-county migration · Internal Revenue Service · Tax years 2022 to 2023Counts tax returns and the people on them; flows under 20 returns are suppressed.
  7. County Business Patterns · US Census Bureau · 2023 data
  8. OpenStreetMap · © OpenStreetMap contributors, available under the Open Database License (ODbL) · Map data as of 2026-11
  9. National Park Service sites · Wikidata (CC0), units operated by the National Park Service · Retrieved 2026-11
  10. National Register of Historic Places · National Park Service · Listings through 2026-05-22
  11. Common Core of Data · National Center for Education Statistics · 2024 release
  12. 1991-2020 climate normals · NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information · Series updated 2026-11-05Averages for 1991 to 2020 computed from NOAA's county climate series (nClimDiv).nClimDiv county series
  13. National Risk Index · Federal Emergency Management Agency · Latest release, retrieved 2026-11-14NRI data and maps
  14. Air Quality System, annual AQI by county · US Environmental Protection Agency · 2025 dataAirData download files

Derived by Citytistics from the tables above: rent to income (B25064, B19013); property tax rate (B25103, B25077); home price to income (B25077, B19013).

What stands out compares Montrose with places of a similar size, using only figures measured for Montrose itself; county and metro figures never count. Survey figures are estimates with margins of error. Formulas and definitions: methodology. API: /api/v1/places/montrose-virginia

Citytistics. “Montrose, Virginia.” Data as of 2026-11-14. https://www.citytistics.com/city/montrose-virginia/

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.