Arcola, VA vs Fort Belvoir, VA

Fort Belvoir is moderately more affordable than Arcola, with a 5.1% lower cost of living index. Arcola scores 164 compared to 156 for Fort Belvoir, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Arcola can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Arcola is $2,508/month compared to $3,212/month in Fort Belvoir — a 22% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Arcola has cheaper rent, Fort Belvoir actually has lower median home values ($244,400 vs $602,700).

Median household income in Arcola is $133,992 compared to $101,237 in Fort Belvoir (+32.4%). While Arcola is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Arcola spend roughly 22.5% of their income on rent, less than the 38.1% in Fort Belvoir. The Arcola ratio exceeds the commonly recommended 30% threshold, which can put pressure on household budgets.