Rockingham, NC vs Dunbar, WV: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Dunbar, WV has a modeled overall cost index 9.2% lower than Rockingham, NC.

Rockingham, NC · modeled 2BR rent
$950 / month
Dunbar, WV · modeled 2BR rent
$1,070 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Rockingham, NC and Dunbar, WV using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

$
Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $528/month in Dunbar, WV

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $143,662 in Dunbar, WV

Regional cost estimates: Rockingham, NC uses Fayetteville, NC. Dunbar, WV uses Columbus, OH. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↓ 9.2%
Less expensive
Monthly Impact
$528
Savings
Annual Impact
$6.3K
Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

Rockingham, NC

Population:9K
Cost Index:
86.8
100 = national average
Typical Home:$129K

Dunbar, WV

Population:7K
Cost Index:
78.8
100 = national average
Typical Home:$120K

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Rockingham, NC

The Tar Heel State

9K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in North Carolina, this city has a population of 9K residents.

Dunbar, WV

The Mountain State

7K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in West Virginia, this city has a population of 7K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Rockingham, NC vs Dunbar, WV

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Housing
↓ 13.8%
Rockingham, NC
$2,149
Dunbar, WV
$1,853
Difference
$296
less
Other
↓ 10.1%
Rockingham, NC
$1,737
Dunbar, WV
$1,561
Difference
$176
less
All Utilities
↓ 13.8%
Rockingham, NC
$578
Dunbar, WV
$498
Difference
$79.85
less
Transportation
↑ 5.4%
Rockingham, NC
$1,299
Dunbar, WV
$1,370
Difference
$70.43
more
Groceries
↓ 2.7%
Rockingham, NC
$1,068
Dunbar, WV
$1,039
Difference
$28.61
less
Healthcare
↓ 2.7%
Rockingham, NC
$669
Dunbar, WV
$651
Difference
$17.99
less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$730
To$740
↑ $10.00
1 Bed
From$840
To$860
↑ $20.00
2 Bed
From$950
To$1,070
↑ $120
3 Bed
From$1,320
To$1,370
↑ $50.00
Rockingham, NCZIP-level data

1BR range: $840–$840/mo

Dunbar, WVZIP-level data

1BR range: $860–$860/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500
Monthly in Rockingham, NC
$6,972
Monthly in Dunbar, WV
$528
Difference

Home Values

Rockingham
Dunbar
$129K
Median Value
$120K
↑ +2.4%
YoY Change
↓ -5.7%
↑ +41.1%
5-Year Change
↑ +27.2%

Homes in Dunbar are 7% less expensive than Rockingham

Calculate payment - RockinghamCalculate payment - Dunbar

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↓ $1.5K
More taxes
Monthly Difference
$125
Less take-home
Effective Rate Diff
1.0%
Rate difference

Rockingham, NC

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
North Carolina State Tax
Effective: 4.8%
$7.1K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 29.4%
$44.1K
Take-Home Pay
$8,822/month
$105.9K

Dunbar, WV

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
West Virginia State Tax
Effective: 5.8%
$8.6K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 30.4%
$45.6K
Take-Home Pay
$8,697/month
$104.4K

Additional Tax Information

Rockingham, NC Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.1%
Property Tax:0.8%

Dunbar, WV Tax Rates

Sales Tax:6.7%
Property Tax:0.6%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

Environment

Rockingham
Dunbar
46 Good
Air Quality
53 Moderate
63.7%
Good Air Days
41.3%
89 Moderate
Climate Risk
98 High
🌀🌪
Top Hazards
🌊🌡🌪
▲+2.5°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.1°F
36 days
Heat Days >95°F
18 days
▲+2.5°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.1°F
36 days
Heat Days >95°F
18 days

Before moving from Rockingham, NC to Dunbar, WV

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Dunbar, WV for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Rockingham, NC. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
  2. Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
  3. Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
  4. Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Rockingham to Dunbar moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Dunbar, WV by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Rockingham, NC vs Dunbar, WV

How do the cost estimates for Rockingham, NC and Dunbar, WV compare?

Dunbar, WV has a modeled overall cost index 9.2% lower than Rockingham, NC. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in Rockingham, NC, the model estimates $143,662 in Dunbar, WV. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for Rockingham, NC and Dunbar, WV?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $950/month in Rockingham, NC and $1,070/month in Dunbar, WV. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.

💰 See how taxes change too — compare take-home pay between North Carolina and West Virginia on TaxTakeHome.com

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