Cost of Living in Oriental, NC

With a cost of living index of 100, Oriental, NC is right around the national average in cost. Living here is 0% cheaper than the national average and 15% above the North Carolina state average of 84. Oriental is a small community of 930 residents.

Housing costs are the biggest factor in Oriental's cost of living. The median monthly rent is $1,106 (16% below the US median of $1,319), and the median home value sits at $406,800 (33% above the national median of $304,900). At current prices, the median home costs roughly 7x the median household income — a challenging ratio that puts homeownership out of reach for many residents.

The median household income in Oriental is $57,875, which is 23% lower than the national median of $75,149. Residents spend roughly 23% of household income on rent. This is a comfortable ratio, well below the 30% threshold that financial experts recommend as a maximum.

Data sources: US Census Bureau (ACS 2023), Zillow Home Values, HUD Fair Market Rents, BEA Regional Price Parities, BLS Average Prices, and NOAA Climate Normals. Updated monthly.