D

Cedar Grove, NC

Source:

Affordability Score: 42/100

Population: 2,148 · 1 ZIP codes

The affordability dashboard for Cedar Grove, NC aggregates Census ACS 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code covering 2,148 residents, then layers in county-level federal data to produce an overall grade of D (42/100). The headline inputs are median household income of $64,471, median home value of $248,900, median rent of $690 per month, and 31.9% of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher. These four metrics alone explain most of the variance between city dashboards.

Cross-agency feeds widen the picture beyond Census demographics. HUD publishes a Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in this county at $1,711 per month (studio $1,417, 1BR $1,507, 3BR $2,117, 4BR $2,527). Department of Labor data lists infant center-based childcare at $18,453 per year, consuming 29% of the local median household income.

Reading the overall grade requires reading all seven dimensions together. The score weights Income 20%, Safety 20%, Housing 15%, Rent 15%, Education 10%, Commute 10%, and Childcare 10%, with each sub-score benchmarked against national percentiles rather than state averages — so the grade is genuinely comparable across any city in the country. Pressure points are commute, childcare. Unemployment currently reads 4.8% and poverty 12.6% — numbers worth keeping alongside the headline grade.

Score Breakdown

Income C-
$64,471
Median household income
Education C-
31.9%
Bachelor's degree or higher
Housing D
3.9x
Home value $248,900 vs income
Commute F
29 min
Average commute time
Rent D
$1,711/mo
2BR fair market rent (32% of income)
Safety N/A
N/A
Violent crime rate (county)
Childcare F
$18,453/yr
Center-based infant care (29% of income)

Income & Employment

Median Income
$64,471
▲ 4% vs national
Per Capita Income
$36,841
Unemployment Rate
4.8%
Poverty Rate
12.6%

Housing

Median Home Value
$248,900
▼ 9% vs national
Median Rent
$690/mo
Owner Occupied
83.5%
2BR Fair Market Rent
$1,711/mo
▲ 43% vs national

Fair Market Rents by Bedroom

Studio
$1,417
1BR
$1,507
2BR
$1,711
3BR
$2,117
4BR
$2,527

Safety

Violent Crime Rate
Data Source
FBI UCR (county-level)

Education & Family

Bachelor's Degree+
31.9%
▲ 2 ppt vs national
High School+
57.1%
Median Age
46.0
Avg. Commute
29 min
▲ 3 min vs national

Childcare Costs

Infant (Center)
$18,453/yr
29% of income
Toddler (Center)
$15,202/yr
Preschool (Center)
$10,326/yr
School-Age (Center)
$5,443/yr

What This Means

Cedar Grove, NC receives an overall affordability grade of D (42/100), aggregated from 1 ZIP codes with a total population of 2,148. Challenges include commute and childcare. Data was unavailable for safety — these dimensions were excluded from the overall score.

Nearby City Dashboards

Explore Cedar Grove ZIP Codes
View all 1 ZIP codes with demographics and individual scorecards
View ZIPs →

What are common questions about this dashboard?

Is Cedar Grove, NC affordable?
Cedar Grove, NC receives an overall affordability grade of D (42/100) based on Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data. Median household income is $64,471. Median home value is $248,900.
What is the cost of living in Cedar Grove?
Key cost metrics: Median rent $690/mo. 2BR fair market rent $1,711/mo. Infant childcare $18,453/yr. Median home value $248,900.
How is the affordability score calculated?
The score evaluates 7 dimensions weighted by importance: Income (20%), Safety (20%), Housing (15%), Rent (15%), Education (10%), Commute (10%), and Childcare (10%). Each metric is compared against national percentile benchmarks from Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data.

Data as of 2024. Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates. Source: HUD Fair Market Rents. Source: FBI Uniform Crime Report. Source: DOL National Database of Childcare Prices. Verify with HUD →