What is the cost of living in Sawmills, NC?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Sawmills has an overall cost of living index of 89, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to North Carolina, Sawmills has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than North Carolina's index of 95.
The standard of living in Sawmills ranks as #17 most affordable out of the 159 places we measured in North Carolina. By definition, that implies Sawmills ranks as the #142 most expensive place in the Tar Heel State.
For more reading on life in Sawmills, check out:
Sawmills Cost Of Living Vs. North Carolina
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Sawmills. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Sawmills is 96.
The Groceries index in Sawmills is 103.
The Health index in Sawmills is 64.
The Housing index in Sawmills is 94.
The Transportation index in Sawmills is 100.
The Utilities index in Sawmills is 95.
| Living Expense | Sawmills | North Carolina | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 89 | 95 | 100 |
| Services | 96 | 98 | 100 |
| Groceries | 103 | 98 | 100 |
| Health | 64 | 89 | 100 |
| Housing | 94 | 100 | 100 |
| Transportation | 100 | 97 | 100 |
| Utilities | 95 | 101 | 100 |
Sawmills Cost Of Living Compared To North Carolina Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around North Carolina, check out:
- Most Expensive Cities In North Carolina
- Most Affordable Cities In North Carolina
- Average Rent In North Carolina
Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Sawmills, NC Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in North Carolina, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Sawmills is $230,414.
The Median Rent in Sawmills is $730.
The Median Income in Sawmills is $71,067.
The Home Value To Income in Sawmills is 3.2x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Sawmills is 0.12x.
| Statistic | Sawmills | North Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $230,414 | $336,407 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $730 | $1,228 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $71,067 | $72,388 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 3.2x | 4.6x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.12x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Sawmills, NC Costs By Category
Detailed Sawmills Services costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Sawmills | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.27 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $13.55 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $21.67 | $18 |
| Haircut | $18.25 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $59.75 | $45.56 |
Detailed Sawmills Groceries costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Sawmills | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $6.27 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.39 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.61 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.98 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $10.96 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.47 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.81 | $3.7 |
Detailed Sawmills Health costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Sawmills | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $143.74 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $148.29 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $115.52 | $113.29 |
Detailed Sawmills Transportation costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Sawmills | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.29 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $53.32 | $59.92 |
Detailed Sawmills Utilities costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Sawmills | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $167.89 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $189.9 | $192.25 |
Sawmills SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Sawmills
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Sawmills. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Hickory, NC has a cost of living index of 100, 1.1x Sawmills.
Lenoir, NC has a cost of living index of 90, 1.0x Sawmills.
Morganton, NC has a cost of living index of 92, 1.0x Sawmills.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Sawmills |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hickory, NC | 44,258 | 100 | 1.1x |
| Lenoir, NC | 18,299 | 90 | 1.0x |
| Morganton, NC | 17,646 | 92 | 1.0x |
| Newton, NC | 13,333 | 91 | 1.0x |
| St. Stephens, NC | 9,457 | 93 | 1.0x |
| Conover, NC | 8,580 | 95 | 1.1x |
