The Inclusive Housing Campaign is based on the belief that people who work in the greater Williamsburg area (Williamsburg and James City County) should be able to afford to live here.

As housing prices soar, many people, including those who provide core services in this community, such as police officers, firefighters, teachers, and health care providers, discover that they simply cannot afford to purchase a home here. The Inclusive Housing Campaign knows that offering quality housing that is affordable for lower-and middle-income families enriches and strengthens our community.

The Campaign offers James City County a way to meet its commitment of providing affordable housing for its community members—a commitment laid out in the County’s current Comprehensive Plan.

What does “affordable housing” mean?

James City County defines affordable homes as those costing no more than $150,000.

According to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), housing is affordable when households spend no more than 30% of their income on housing. Housing costs are determined as follows:

• For homeowners, combine the total cost of principal on mortgage payments, interest, property taxes, and insurance.
• For renters, total rent and utilities.

The average selling price of a single family home in the Williamsburg area is $354,000.

The median household income for a family of four in the Williamsburg area is $55,594/yr.

What is wrong with those numbers?