$85,895/yr
is the income needed to buy the typical $291,346 home in Blacksburg, VA at today's 6.47% rate — about $2,004/mo. The local median household ($64,627) falls $21,268 short.
The math (shown)
291,346 price − 10% down (29,135) = 262,211 loan
30-yr fixed at 6.47% on 262,211 = 1,652/mo principal+interest
+ 352/mo est. taxes+insurance (1.45%/yr of value — national placeholder)
2,004/mo PITI ÷ 0.28 = 7,158/mo → 85,895/yr required
against Zillow ZHVI 2026-05 (Zillow ZHVI (typical home value, smoothed, all-homes 33–67pct tier)) and the 6.47% FRED 30-yr rate (2026-06-18). Local median income: $64,627 (U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 5-year, median household income (table B19013)).
Can I afford Blacksburg, VA on my salary?
Your salary:
Rent vs own here
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FAQ
How much do I need to make to live in Blacksburg, VA?
To buy the typical home, about $85,895/yr. Renting needs less; this page sizes the buy.
What home value is this based on?
Zillow's ZHVI typical-home-value for the Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA metro (2026-05): $291,346.
Is the mortgage rate current?
Yes — 6.47% from FRED's weekly 30-year fixed average (2026-06-18).
Glossary
ZHVI
Zillow Home Value Index — the typical home value for a region (35th–65th percentile, smoothed, seasonally adjusted).
Front-end DTI
Housing payment as a share of gross income; lenders commonly cap it near 28%.
PITI
Principal, Interest, Taxes, and Insurance — the full monthly housing cost.