Chester, VA vs Lake of the Woods, VA

Chester is moderately more affordable than Lake of the Woods, with a 14.9% lower cost of living index. Chester scores 103 compared to 121 for Lake of the Woods, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Lake of the Woods can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Chester is $1,463/month compared to $1,690/month in Lake of the Woods — a 13% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Chester is more affordable at $290,600 median vs $377,500.

Median household income in Chester is $88,455 compared to $112,917 in Lake of the Woods (-21.7%). While Lake of the Woods is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Chester spend roughly 19.8% of their income on rent, more than the 18% in Lake of the Woods.