Cape Charles, VA vs Dahlgren, VA

Cape Charles, VA and Dahlgren, VA have a very similar cost of living, with only a 3% difference in their overall index. Cape Charles scores 109 while Dahlgren scores 106 on the cost of living index, where 100 represents the national average. The day-to-day expenses for residents in both cities are comparable, though differences emerge when looking at specific categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Cape Charles is $840/month compared to $1,291/month in Dahlgren — a 35% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Cape Charles has cheaper rent, Dahlgren actually has lower median home values ($383,400 vs $589,000).

Median household income in Cape Charles is $51,250 compared to $106,071 in Dahlgren (-51.7%). Dahlgren offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Cape Charles spend roughly 19.7% of their income on rent, more than the 14.6% in Dahlgren.