From Coast to Coast, These Are the Most Expensive Counties in Every State

During a downturn, the cost of living in an area can be a significant factor in the ability to build wealth and stay economically healthy. Today, we are taking a look at which county in every state has the highest cost of living.

24/7 Wall St. went through the data state by state to identify the most expensive county to live in each state. To create the following list, we carefully reviewed data from the U.S. Department of Commerce. We then ranked every county or county in each state with the equivalent of estimated regional price parity (a measure of the cost of living relative to the national average.)

We have also included data on median household income and median home values from five-year estimates coming from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2022 American Community Survey. (Due to recent changes in county distinctions, ACS data for Connecticut is current as of 2021.) In 32 of the 50 states, there is at least one county where the cost of living exceeds the national average. Furthermore, in the most expensive counties in these states, the price of goods and services is anywhere from 0.2% to 32.6% higher than average.

(This article was updated on March 24, 2025, to reflect recent economic news and poll data regarding President Trump’s handling of the economy.)

Why It Matters Now

With recession fears returning, it makes sense to pay attention to the cost of living in your area. For years, the rapidly rising prices have been top of mind for millions of Americans. But while no corner of the country was spared from the effects of inflation, there are specific places where longstanding, deeply entrenched supply and demand dynamics have pushed the cost of living well above what most Americans are accustomed to. In most states, there is at least one county where goods and services are far more expensive than they are nationwide, on average.

These are the most expensive counties to live in in every state:

Alabama: Shelby County

• Est. cost of living in county: 6.1% less expensive than US avg.
• Est. cost of living in state: 12.2% less expensive than US avg.
• Median household income: $90,618 ($59,609 statewide)
• Median home value: $276,500 ($179,400 statewide)

Alaska: Anchorage Municipality

• Est. cost of living in area: 7.2% more expensive than US avg.
• Est. cost of living in state: 2.0% more expensive than US avg.
• Median household income: $95,731 ($86,370 statewide)
• Median home value: $363,800 ($318,000 statewide)

Arizona: Maricopa County

• Est. cost of living in county: 0.4% less expensive than US avg.
• Est. cost of living in state: 0.1% less expensive than US avg.
• Median household income: $80,675 ($72,581 statewide)
• Median home value: $371,400 ($321,400 statewide)

Arkansas: Benton County

• Est. cost of living in county: 6.7% less expensive than US avg.
• Est. cost of living in state: 13.4% less expensive than US avg.
• Median household income: $85,269 ($56,335 statewide)
• Median home value: $254,000 ($162,400 statewide)

California: San Mateo County

• Est. cost of living in county: 27.7% more expensive than US avg.
• Est. cost of living in state: 12.5% more expensive than US avg.
• Median household income: $149,907 ($91,905 statewide)
• Median home value: $1,441,300 ($659,300 statewide)

Colorado: Douglas County

• Est. cost of living in county: 16.2% more expensive than US avg.
• Est. cost of living in state: 2.3% more expensive than US avg.
• Median household income: $139,010 ($87,598 statewide)
• Median home value: $635,100 ($465,900 statewide)

Connecticut: Fairfield County

• Est. cost of living in county: 6.1% more expensive than US avg.
• Est. cost of living in state: 6.4% more expensive than US avg.
• Median household income: $101,194 ($83,572 statewide)
• Median home value: $443,100 ($286,700 statewide)

Delaware: New Castle County

• Est. cost of living in county: 1.3% less expensive than US avg.
• Est. cost of living in state: 2.0% less expensive than US avg.
• Median household income: $85,309 ($79,325 statewide)
• Median home value: $312,000 ($305,200 statewide)

Florida: Monroe County

• Est. cost of living in county: 18.9% more expensive than US avg.
• Est. cost of living in state: 2.1% more expensive than US avg.
• Median household income: $80,111 ($67,917 statewide)
• Median home value: $696,900 ($292,200 statewide)

Georgia: Fulton County

• Est. cost of living in county: 5.9% more expensive than US avg.
• Est. cost of living in state: 4.2% less expensive than US avg.
• Median household income: $86,267 ($71,355 statewide)
• Median home value: $398,300 ($245,900 statewide)

Hawaii: Kalawao County

• Est. cost of living in county: 17.5% more expensive than US avg.
• Est. cost of living in state: 10.8% more expensive than US avg.
• Median household income: $87,813 ($94,814 statewide)
• Median home value: N/A ($764,800 statewide)

Idaho: Teton County

• Est. cost of living in county: 7.5% more expensive than US avg.
• Est. cost of living in state: 8.2% less expensive than US avg.
• Median household income: $88,906 ($70,214 statewide)
• Median home value: $479,800 ($331,600 statewide)

Illinois: DuPage County

• Est. cost of living in county: 11.3% more expensive than US avg.
• Est. cost of living in state: 1.3% more expensive than US avg.
• Median household income: $107,035 ($78,433 statewide)
• Median home value: $361,700 ($239,100 statewide)

Indiana: Hamilton County

• Est. cost of living in county: 2.6% more expensive than US avg.
• Est. cost of living in state: 8.2% less expensive than US avg.
• Median household income: $114,866 ($67,173 statewide)
• Median home value: $350,900 ($183,600 statewide)

Iowa: Dallas County

• Est. cost of living in county: 5.2% less expensive than US avg.
• Est. cost of living in state: 11.6% less expensive than US avg.
• Median household income: $99,533 ($70,571 statewide)
• Median home value: $314,900 ($181,600 statewide)

Kansas: Johnson County

• Est. cost of living in county: 1.6% less expensive than US avg.
• Est. cost of living in state: 10.0% less expensive than US avg.
• Median household income: $103,644 ($69,747 statewide)
• Median home value: $343,300 ($189,300 statewide)

Kentucky: Campbell County

• Est. cost of living in county: 3.9% less expensive than US avg.
• Est. cost of living in state: 10.6% less expensive than US avg.
• Median household income: $71,979 ($60,183 statewide)
• Median home value: $214,400 ($177,000 statewide)

Louisiana: Orleans Parish

• Est. cost of living in parish: 3.7% less expensive than US avg.
• Est. cost of living in state: 9.4% less expensive than US avg.
• Median household income: $51,116 ($57,852 statewide)
• Median home value: $281,500 ($198,300 statewide)

Maine: Cumberland County

• Est. cost of living in county: 3.9% more expensive than US avg.
• Est. cost of living in state: 0.8% more expensive than US avg.
• Median household income: $87,710 ($68,251 statewide)
• Median home value: $372,900 ($244,800 statewide)

Maryland: Montgomery County

• Est. cost of living in county: 14.3% more expensive than US avg.
• Est. cost of living in state: 5.0% more expensive than US avg.
• Median household income: $125,583 ($98,461 statewide)
• Median home value: $588,900 ($380,500 statewide)

Massachusetts: Norfolk County

• Est. cost of living in county: 13.6% more expensive than US avg.
• Est. cost of living in state: 9.4% more expensive than US avg.
• Median household income: $120,621 ($96,505 statewide)
• Median home value: $612,100 ($483,900 statewide)

Michigan: Leelanau County

• Est. cost of living in county: 30.9% more expensive than US avg.
• Est. cost of living in state: 6.6% less expensive than US avg.
• Median household income: $82,345 ($68,505 statewide)
• Median home value: $371,200 ($201,100 statewide)

Minnesota: Carver County

• Est. cost of living in county: 8.1% more expensive than US avg.
• Est. cost of living in state: 2.3% less expensive than US avg.
• Median household income: $116,308 ($84,313 statewide)
• Median home value: $400,500 ($286,800 statewide)

Mississippi: Lamar County

• Est. cost of living in county: 8.2% less expensive than US avg.
• Est. cost of living in state: 12.7% less expensive than US avg.
• Median household income: $67,972 ($52,985 statewide)
• Median home value: $209,700 ($151,000 statewide)

Missouri: St. Louis County

• Est. cost of living in county: 0.3% more expensive than US avg.
• Est. cost of living in state: 8.9% less expensive than US avg.
• Median household income: $78,067 ($65,920 statewide)
• Median home value: $249,400 ($199,400 statewide)

Montana: Gallatin County

• Est. cost of living in county: 2.1% less expensive than US avg.
• Est. cost of living in state: 9.7% less expensive than US avg.
• Median household income: $83,434 ($66,341 statewide)
• Median home value: $526,700 ($305,700 statewide)

Nebraska: Douglas County

• Est. cost of living in county: 5.1% less expensive than US avg.
• Est. cost of living in state: 10.2% less expensive than US avg.
• Median household income: $76,083 ($71,722 statewide)
• Median home value: $227,400 ($205,600 statewide)

Nevada: Douglas County

• Est. cost of living in county: 1.9% less expensive than US avg.
• Est. cost of living in state: 3.6% less expensive than US avg.
• Median household income: $84,262 ($71,646 statewide)
• Median home value: $529,600 ($373,800 statewide)

New Hampshire: Rockingham County

• Est. cost of living in county: 4.4% more expensive than US avg.
• Est. cost of living in state: 7.6% more expensive than US avg.
• Median household income: $110,225 ($90,845 statewide)
• Median home value: $424,100 ($337,100 statewide)

New Jersey: Morris County

• Est. cost of living in county: 15.6% more expensive than US avg.
• Est. cost of living in state: 8.8% more expensive than US avg.
• Median household income: $130,808 ($97,126 statewide)
• Median home value: $531,800 ($401,400 statewide)

New Mexico: Los Alamos County

• Est. cost of living in county: 5.1% less expensive than US avg.
• Est. cost of living in state: 9.0% less expensive than US avg.
• Median household income: $135,801 ($58,722 statewide)
• Median home value: $412,700 ($216,000 statewide)

New York: New York County

• Est. cost of living in county: 32.6% more expensive than US avg.
• Est. cost of living in state: 7.6% more expensive than US avg.
• Median household income: $99,880 ($81,386 statewide)
• Median home value: $1,104,000 ($384,100 statewide)

North Carolina: Orange County

• Est. cost of living in county: 1.9% more expensive than US avg.
• Est. cost of living in state: 5.8% less expensive than US avg.
• Median household income: $85,785 ($66,186 statewide)
• Median home value: $395,600 ($234,900 statewide)

North Dakota: Burleigh County

• Est. cost of living in county: 4.9% less expensive than US avg.
• Est. cost of living in state: 11.3% less expensive than US avg.
• Median household income: $82,141 ($73,959 statewide)
• Median home value: $302,300 ($232,500 statewide)

Ohio: Delaware County

• Est. cost of living in county: 0.5% less expensive than US avg.
• Est. cost of living in state: 8.6% less expensive than US avg.
• Median household income: $123,995 ($66,990 statewide)
• Median home value: $393,000 ($183,300 statewide)

Oklahoma: Canadian County

• Est. cost of living in county: 6.2% less expensive than US avg.
• Est. cost of living in state: 11.2% less expensive than US avg.
• Median household income: $82,364 ($61,364 statewide)
• Median home value: $212,700 ($170,500 statewide)

Oregon: Crook County

• Est. cost of living in county: 22.6% more expensive than US avg.
• Est. cost of living in state: 6.6% more expensive than US avg.
• Median household income: $74,969 ($76,632 statewide)
• Median home value: $368,200 ($423,100 statewide)

Pennsylvania: Chester County

• Est. cost of living in county: 3.1% more expensive than US avg.
• Est. cost of living in state: 3.8% less expensive than US avg.
• Median household income: $118,574 ($73,170 statewide)
• Median home value: $435,000 ($226,200 statewide)

Rhode Island: Newport County

• Est. cost of living in county: 11.6% more expensive than US avg.
• Est. cost of living in state: 4.7% more expensive than US avg.
• Median household income: $96,319 ($81,370 statewide)
• Median home value: $503,700 ($343,100 statewide)

South Carolina: Charleston County

• Est. cost of living in county: 2.3% more expensive than US avg.
• Est. cost of living in state: 6.4% less expensive than US avg.
• Median household income: $78,795 ($63,623 statewide)
• Median home value: $415,000 ($216,200 statewide)

South Dakota: Lincoln County

• Est. cost of living in county: 4.2% less expensive than US avg.
• Est. cost of living in state: 12.0% less expensive than US avg.
• Median household income: $92,317 ($69,457 statewide)
• Median home value: $292,200 ($219,500 statewide)

Tennessee: Williamson County

• Est. cost of living in county: 4.3% more expensive than US avg.
• Est. cost of living in state: 8.2% less expensive than US avg.
• Median household income: $125,943 ($64,035 statewide)
• Median home value: $611,100 ($232,100 statewide)

Texas: Collin County

• Est. cost of living in county: 10.1% more expensive than US avg.
• Est. cost of living in state: 2.5% less expensive than US avg.
• Median household income: $113,255 ($73,035 statewide)
• Median home value: $411,100 ($238,000 statewide)

Utah: Summit County

• Est. cost of living in county: 11.0% more expensive than US avg.
• Est. cost of living in state: 5.5% less expensive than US avg.
• Median household income: $126,392 ($86,833 statewide)
• Median home value: $895,100 ($408,500 statewide)

Vermont: Chittenden County

• Est. cost of living in county: 4.6% more expensive than US avg.
• Est. cost of living in state: 1.1% more expensive than US avg.
• Median household income: $89,494 ($74,014 statewide)
• Median home value: $378,300 ($272,400 statewide)

Virginia: Arlington County

• Est. cost of living in county: 25.2% more expensive than US avg.
• Est. cost of living in state: 2.1% more expensive than US avg.
• Median household income: $137,387 ($87,249 statewide)
• Median home value: $833,300 ($339,800 statewide)

Washington: King County

• Est. cost of living in county: 17.8% more expensive than US avg.
• Est. cost of living in state: 9.8% more expensive than US avg.
• Median household income: $116,340 ($90,325 statewide)
• Median home value: $761,500 ($473,400 statewide)

West Virginia: Monongalia County

• Est. cost of living in county: 2.4% less expensive than US avg.
• Est. cost of living in state: 10.8% less expensive than US avg.
• Median household income: $60,893 ($55,217 statewide)
• Median home value: $242,100 ($145,800 statewide)

Wisconsin: Pierce County

• Est. cost of living in county: 0.2% more expensive than US avg.
• Est. cost of living in state: 7.7% less expensive than US avg.
• Median household income: $82,996 ($72,458 statewide)
• Median home value: $278,700 ($231,400 statewide)

Wyoming: Teton County

• Est. cost of living in county: 9.6% more expensive than US avg.
• Est. cost of living in state: 8.1% less expensive than US avg.
• Median household income: $108,279 ($72,495 statewide)
• Median home value: $1,137,500 ($269,900 statewide)

The post From Coast to Coast, These Are the Most Expensive Counties in Every State appeared first on 24/7 Wall St..