Cost of living is higher in mid-Hudson Valley: This county is the most expensive
This article was originally published on Record Online
The cost of living in Dutchess, Orange and Ulster counties is above the national average, according to an analysis by doxoINSIGHTS, and of the three, Orange County is the most expensive place to live.
Sullivan County is the only mid-Hudson Valley county where the overall total cost of living was found to be below average.
doxoINSIGHTS is a branch of the doxo network bill payment system. According to its analysis, average monthly household bills in Orange County are $2,823, which adds up to $33,870 over a year. That’s 33% higher than the national average, or $8,358 in terms of dollars and cents.
Dutchess County isn’t much better. Doxo says the average monthly bills there are $2,661, or $31,930 over one year’s time, for a total of $6,418 above the national average.
Ulster County is somewhat cheaper. Their average monthly household bills are 2,320, or 9% higher than the national average. An average household in Ulster County pays $27,846 a year.
Only in Sullivan County do area residents pay less than the national average.
There, the average monthly household bills are $1,959, which translates to $23,511 over the course of a year — 8% below the national average.
But even in Sullivan County, you might pay a little more than the national average sometimes.
Mortgage costs in mid-Hudson Valley
According to doxo, the average monthly mortgage costs $1,414 in Sullivan County, which is $12 more than the national average of $1,402.
But that’s still better than the other counties in the mid-Hudson Valley. The average monthly mortgage is $2,270 in Orange County, $2,245 in Dutchess County and $1,939 in Ulster County.
Those who rent rather than own their own home also get a break in Sullivan County. The average monthly rent in Sullivan County is $1,011, well below the national average of $1,300.
Renters in Orange County pay an average of $1,521 a month, while in Dutchess County they pay an average of $1,437 a month. Renters in Ulster County pay an average of $1,319 – just $19 a month above the national average.
Auto loan costs in mid-Hudson counties
Those who own cars get a couple more breaks in Sullivan County. They pay an average of $417 a month for their auto loans, compared to the national average of $496, and $189 a month for auto insurance, compared to the national average of $209 a month.
Elsewhere, Orange County residents pay an average of $546 a month for auto loans and $223 a month for auto insurance. Dutchess County residents pay an average of $537 a month for auto loans and $281 a month for auto insurance. And in Ulster County, residents pay an average of $417 a month for auto loans and $221 a month for auto insurance. Only the Ulster County average price for auto loans is below the national average.
Health insurance costs lower in Orange County
However, when it comes to health insurance, Orange County is where residents catch a break. According to doxo, Orange County residents pay an average of $75 a month for health insurance, compared to the national average of $114 a month.
Sullivan County is close, paying an average of $118 a month for health insurance, just $4 above the national average. Ulster County residents pay an average of $152 a month for health insurance, closely followed by Dutchess County with the most expensive health insurance cost in the region, an average of $157 a month.
How much are utility bills in mid-Hudson Valley
The average monthly price for utility bills is above the national average of $362 a month in all four counties.
Sullivan County residents pay the most, an average of $556 a month, followed by Orange County residents with an average of $537 a month, Ulster County residents with an average of $489 a month and Dutchess County with an average of $409 a month, according to the doxo survey.