Surry County is located in southeastern Virginia on the south side of the James River, roughly opposite Jamestown and Williamsburg, and forms part of the Hampton Roads–Tidewater region. Established in 1652 from James City County, it is one of the Commonwealth’s older counties and retains strong ties to Virginia’s early colonial history. Surry County is small in population—about 7,000 residents in recent estimates—and is characterized by a largely rural settlement pattern. Its landscape includes broad riverfront areas, low-lying Coastal Plain terrain, forests, and farmland. The local economy has historically centered on agriculture and timber, with additional activity tied to regional employment in nearby metropolitan areas and facilities along the James River. Community life is oriented around small towns and unincorporated areas, with cultural features typical of the Tidewater South. The county seat is Surry.

Surry County Local Demographic Profile

Surry County is located in southeastern Virginia on the south side of the James River, across from the Jamestown/Williamsburg area on the Virginia Peninsula. The county includes rural communities and riverfront areas within the Hampton Roads–adjacent region; for local government and planning resources, visit the Surry County official website.

Population Size

According to the U.S. Census Bureau (data.census.gov), Surry County’s population size is reported in the Decennial Census and updated through Census Bureau annual estimates (e.g., Population Estimates Program). County-level totals can be retrieved by searching “Surry County, Virginia” and selecting tables such as Decennial Census totals and Population estimates.

Age & Gender

Age distribution and gender composition for Surry County are published by the U.S. Census Bureau (data.census.gov), primarily through the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year tables that provide the most stable county-level detail.

  • Age distribution: Available in ACS tables such as “Sex by Age” (ACS table series commonly labeled DP05 or detailed equivalents), which break the population into standard age bands (e.g., under 5, 5–9, …, 65+).
  • Gender ratio: The same ACS profile tables report counts of males and females and allow calculation/reading of the male-to-female balance (often shown directly as percent male/female).

Racial & Ethnic Composition

Racial and ethnic composition for Surry County is reported by the U.S. Census Bureau (data.census.gov) in both the Decennial Census (benchmark counts) and the ACS 5-year (more current multi-year estimates).

  • Race: Standard categories include White, Black or African American, American Indian and Alaska Native, Asian, Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander, Some Other Race, and Two or More Races.
  • Ethnicity (Hispanic or Latino origin): Reported separately from race (Hispanic/Latino can be of any race), with non-Hispanic totals also provided in ACS profile tables.

Household & Housing Data

Household and housing characteristics for Surry County are published in the U.S. Census Bureau’s ACS 5-year tables, which include:

  • Households and household size: Total households, average household size, and household type (family vs. nonfamily).
  • Housing units and occupancy: Total housing units, occupied vs. vacant units, and vacancy rate.
  • Tenure: Owner-occupied vs. renter-occupied shares.
  • Selected housing characteristics: Structure type, year built (by era bands), and other housing indicators found in ACS housing tables and profile products.

Data Access Notes (County-Level Availability)

County-level demographic statistics for Surry County are available through the U.S. Census Bureau’s data portal via Decennial Census products and ACS 5-year tables. No non-Census sources are used for demographic counts because Census Bureau programs are the standard authoritative source for U.S. county-level demographic profiles.

Email Usage

Surry County, Virginia is a small, largely rural county along the James River; low population density and distance from major urban networks can constrain last‑mile infrastructure and shape reliance on digital communication.

Direct county-level email usage statistics are not routinely published, so email adoption is best inferred from digital access proxies such as household internet/broadband subscriptions and computer availability reported by the U.S. Census Bureau (data.census.gov) and summarized by the U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts for Surry County. These indicators capture the practical ability to create and regularly use email accounts.

Age structure influences email uptake because older populations tend to show lower overall adoption of online services and higher accessibility needs; Surry County’s age distribution and median age are available via QuickFacts as a proxy for likely email penetration.

Gender distribution is generally not a primary constraint on email access; county sex composition is available from QuickFacts.

Connectivity constraints are reflected in coverage, speeds, and provider availability in federal broadband reporting such as the FCC National Broadband Map, and in local service context from Surry County government.

Mobile Phone Usage

County context and connectivity-relevant characteristics

Surry County is a small, largely rural county in southeastern Virginia on the south side of the James River, opposite the Jamestown–Williamsburg area. Its settlement pattern is low-density and dispersed, with extensive agricultural and forest land and broad waterfront/low-lying terrain along tidal tributaries. These characteristics generally reduce the number of cell sites per square mile needed for consistent in-building coverage and can contribute to coverage variability, particularly away from primary roads and population centers. Baseline geographic and population context is available from the U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts for Surry County, Virginia.

This overview distinguishes network availability (where service could be provided) from adoption/usage (whether households and individuals subscribe and use mobile services). County-specific adoption indicators for mobile service are limited compared with state and national reporting; limitations are stated explicitly below.

Network availability (4G LTE and 5G)

Mobile broadband coverage reporting sources

The primary public source for modeled mobile coverage is the Federal Communications Commission’s mobile broadband data collection and maps. The FCC provides nationwide, address- and area-based coverage layers for LTE and 5G (by technology type), and these can be viewed at the county scale:

Virginia also maintains statewide broadband resources that reference FCC data and state program inputs:

4G LTE availability

At a county level, 4G LTE availability is typically widespread in populated portions of Virginia counties, but the FCC map must be used to identify specific served/unserved areas within Surry County (including gaps along water-adjacent edges, forested tracts, and interior rural roads). The FCC mobile map allows filtering by provider and technology, which is necessary because “county covered” can still include localized weak-signal or no-service areas.

Key limitation: FCC mobile availability is provider-reported and modeled; it is not a measurement of experienced signal strength inside every structure or at every point on the ground.

5G availability (and variation by 5G type)

5G availability is commonly heterogeneous in rural counties, with coverage often concentrated near higher-traffic corridors and settlements. The FCC map distinguishes between multiple 5G categories (for example, provider-reported 5G coverage types), and those layers are the most direct public way to determine whether 5G is claimed in specific parts of Surry County.

Key limitation: County-level “presence of 5G” does not indicate uniform performance. Provider-reported 5G availability does not directly translate to consistent 5G user experience, particularly indoors or in low-density areas.

Adoption and usage (household and individual)

Mobile penetration / access indicators (availability vs. adoption)

Public, county-specific metrics that directly measure “mobile phone penetration” are not commonly published as a single indicator. The most comparable county-level adoption indicators come from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS), which measures household subscription and device-related access patterns:

  • The ACS includes household subscription types (for example, mobile data plans, fixed broadband, satellite, etc.). These indicators measure adoption, not network availability.
  • The most direct way to obtain Surry County values is via:

Relevant ACS subject content is documented here:

Interpretation note: ACS subscription statistics reflect whether a household reports having a given type of internet subscription. They do not identify the quality of mobile coverage at the residence, and they do not indicate whether mobile service is the primary connection used for all household activities.

Mobile internet usage patterns

County-level, directly observed patterns such as “share of users primarily on mobile” or “daily mobile data consumption” are generally not published as official statistics at the county scale. The most defensible county-level proxies available publicly are:

These sources support a clear distinction:

  • Availability: where LTE/5G is reported as available by providers (FCC).
  • Adoption: whether households report subscribing to mobile broadband (ACS).

Common device types (smartphones vs. other devices)

County-specific breakdowns of device ownership (smartphone vs. basic phone vs. hotspot-only devices) are not commonly released as official, regularly updated county statistics. The ACS focuses primarily on subscription and household computing/internet access concepts rather than enumerating smartphone ownership as a standalone county metric.

Device-type characterization for Surry County therefore relies on:

  • Subscription-based indicators (ACS) that can suggest reliance on mobile broadband plans at the household level, without specifying device form factor.
  • General market reality that mobile internet access is predominantly smartphone-mediated in the U.S., though that statement is national in scope and does not substitute for county-specific measurement.

Limitation: Without a county-level device-ownership survey release, the split between smartphones and non-smartphone handsets, and the prevalence of dedicated hotspots, cannot be stated definitively for Surry County using official public datasets.

Demographic and geographic factors influencing mobile usage and connectivity

Rurality and population density

Surry County’s low population density and dispersed development pattern tends to:

  • Increase the cost per covered household for new cell sites and backhaul
  • Create larger areas where coverage depends on fewer towers, making signal more sensitive to terrain, foliage, and distance

County demographic baselines and housing patterns can be referenced through:

Water-adjacent terrain and land cover

The county’s proximity to the James River and extensive low-lying/waterfront geography can shape radio propagation and tower placement constraints. Forested tracts can also attenuate signal, particularly for higher-frequency services, contributing to variability away from open corridors.

Age, income, and housing characteristics (adoption side)

Household adoption of mobile data plans and the degree to which mobile service substitutes for fixed broadband are commonly associated (in ACS-based analysis) with:

  • Income and affordability constraints
  • Age distribution and digital skills
  • Housing type and tenure
  • Availability and pricing of fixed broadband alternatives

The ACS on data.census.gov supports county-level tabulation of relevant demographic and household variables, enabling correlation-style descriptions, but it does not establish causation.

Data limitations and how Surry County can be assessed responsibly

  • Network availability: The authoritative public source for mobile LTE/5G availability at fine geographic resolution is the FCC National Broadband Map, with known limitations tied to provider-reported modeling (FCC BDC documentation).
  • Adoption: The most consistent public, county-level adoption indicators are ACS household subscription measures on data.census.gov. These reflect household-reported subscriptions and do not measure signal quality, speed, latency, congestion, or in-building performance.
  • Device types and detailed usage patterns: County-level, official statistics are limited; definitive statements about smartphone share, hotspot prevalence, or 4G/5G usage intensity in Surry County are not supported by standard public datasets.

This combination of sources supports a clear separation between where mobile service is reported as available (FCC) and the extent to which residents subscribe and rely on mobile connectivity (ACS), while avoiding unsupported county-specific claims where measurement is not publicly available.

Social Media Trends

Surry County is a small, rural county in southeastern Virginia along the James River, across from Jamestown and within the Hampton Roads–influenced media market. The county’s economy is shaped by agriculture, riverfront geography, commuting ties to nearby employment centers, and the presence of major infrastructure such as the Surry Nuclear Power Station, factors that generally correlate with heavier reliance on mobile-first communication, local Facebook groups, and regional news sharing compared with large-metro areas.

User statistics (penetration and active use)

  • Local, county-specific social media penetration figures are not published in standard federal datasets; most reliable measurement is available at the national/state level rather than at Surry County granularity.
  • National benchmark (adults): Approximately 69% of U.S. adults use Facebook, 54% use YouTube, 32% use Instagram, 31% use Pinterest, 22% use TikTok, and 21% use LinkedIn, based on the Pew Research Center’s Social Media Use in 2024. These figures provide the most defensible baseline for interpreting local patterns in rural Virginia counties.
  • Broadband access context (usage constraint): Social media activity levels in rural counties often track with home broadband availability and smartphone dependence. County-level internet access indicators are tracked by federal programs such as the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS) (internet subscription measures are available in ACS tables), which is commonly used to contextualize likely online participation.

Age group trends

  • Highest usage: Adults 18–29 consistently show the highest social media participation across major platforms, with especially strong adoption of Instagram and TikTok, per Pew Research Center (2024).
  • Broadest cross-age platform: Facebook remains the most cross-generational platform, with high usage among 30–49 and 50–64 and substantial usage among 65+ relative to other social apps (Pew, 2024).
  • Older-adult skew platforms: YouTube is widely used across age groups; Pinterest skews older than TikTok/Instagram and is commonly higher among midlife adults (Pew, 2024).

Gender breakdown

  • Women more likely than men to use several major platforms, particularly Pinterest and (to a lesser extent) Facebook and Instagram, while men are more likely to use platforms such as YouTube and LinkedIn in national survey results (platform-by-gender patterns summarized in Pew Research Center, 2024).
  • County-specific gender splits for social media use are not routinely published; national patterns are typically used as the reference frame for local areas without custom survey work.

Most-used platforms (with percentages from reputable surveys)

Using Pew’s most recent national adult shares as a baseline:

Behavioral trends (engagement patterns and preferences)

  • Local community information flow tends to concentrate on Facebook in rural counties: high usage of community groups, event posts, local-government updates, and marketplace activity is common where town-center density is low and hyperlocal news coverage is limited.
  • Short-form video use is concentrated among younger adults (TikTok/Instagram Reels/YouTube Shorts), aligning with Pew’s age gradients showing markedly higher TikTok/Instagram usage among 18–29 than older cohorts (Pew, 2024).
  • YouTube functions as a universal utility platform (how-to content, news clips, entertainment) across age groups, often paired with Facebook for local sharing.
  • Platform role separation is typical: Facebook for local/community and interpersonal updates; YouTube for longer-form video; Instagram for visual sharing among younger and midlife adults; TikTok for entertainment-driven discovery among younger adults; LinkedIn primarily for professional networking (Pew, 2024).

Family & Associates Records

Surry County, Virginia maintains several categories of family and associate-related public records. Vital events records (birth, death, marriage, divorce) are created and held at the state level through the Virginia Department of Health, Office of Vital Records; local access is commonly available through the Surry County Circuit Court Clerk for marriage and divorce filings and related court orders. Adoption records are generally sealed by law and handled through the courts and state vital records processes; access is restricted to eligible parties under Virginia law.

Public databases relevant to family/associate research include land and property instruments (deeds, liens), probate matters (wills, estates), civil and criminal case dockets, and marriage licenses maintained by the Circuit Court Clerk. Real estate assessment and tax payment information is typically available through county finance/commissioner of the revenue functions, and mapping/parcel lookup may be provided via county or regional GIS portals where published.

Access occurs online and in person. For official points of contact and any posted online systems, residents use the county website (Surry County, Virginia (official site)) and the clerk’s office page (Surry County Circuit Court Clerk). State vital records access information is published by VDH (Virginia Department of Health – Vital Records).

Privacy restrictions commonly apply to birth records (closed for a statutory period), adoption records (sealed), certain health-related data, and records involving juveniles or protected personal identifiers. Fees, identification requirements, and certified-copy rules vary by record type and custodian.

Marriage & Divorce Records

Types of records available

  • Marriage license and marriage register/return
    • Marriage in Surry County is documented through a marriage license issued by the local clerk and a marriage return/certificate completed after the ceremony and recorded by the clerk.
  • Divorce records
    • Divorce matters are recorded as circuit court case files and culminate in a Final Decree of Divorce (or other final order) entered by the court.
  • Annulment records
    • Annulments are handled in court and maintained as circuit court civil case files, with final orders (decrees) entered by the court.

Where records are filed and how they can be accessed

  • Marriage records (local recording)
    • Filed/recorded with: Surry County Clerk of the Circuit Court (marriage licenses and recorded marriage returns).
    • Access: Copies are typically obtained from the Clerk of the Circuit Court. Older marriage records may also be available on microfilm or via archival indexing, depending on the time period and local practices.
  • Marriage records (state-level vital record copies)
    • Filed with: Virginia maintains statewide vital records through the Virginia Department of Health, Division of Vital Records.
    • Access: Certified copies of marriage records are commonly issued by the state vital records office subject to Virginia eligibility rules and fees.
    • Reference: Virginia Department of Health – Vital Records
  • Divorce and annulment (court records)
    • Filed with: Surry County Circuit Court as civil case records; final decrees and orders are entered and retained by the court.
    • Access: Court records are accessed through the Circuit Court Clerk’s office. Availability of remote access varies by court and by record type. Some Virginia circuit court records may be searchable through the statewide judiciary case information portals for limited metadata; comprehensive access to filings and exhibits is commonly handled by the clerk’s office.
    • Reference: Virginia’s Judicial System
  • Divorce verification/certification (state-level summaries)
    • Filed with: Virginia maintains divorce information through the state vital records system for specified years.
    • Access: The state may issue a certified divorce record or verification for certain periods, subject to statutory access limits and administrative rules.
    • Reference: Virginia Department of Health – Vital Records

Typical information included in these records

  • Marriage licenses/records
    • Full names of the parties
    • Date and place of marriage (or intended place; final record reflects the solemnized event)
    • Ages or dates of birth (varies by era and form)
    • Residences and places of birth (often recorded, especially in modern records)
    • Marital status (e.g., single/divorced/widowed)
    • Names of parents (commonly included on modern applications; historical coverage varies)
    • Officiant/celebrant information and certification/return details
    • Clerk’s filing/recording information and book/page or instrument identifiers
  • Divorce decrees/case files
    • Names of parties and case identifiers (style of case, docket/case number)
    • Date of filing and date of final decree
    • Grounds and findings stated in the decree or accompanying orders (level of detail varies)
    • Provisions on property division, debt allocation, spousal support, child custody/visitation, and child support when applicable
    • Restored name orders (when granted)
    • Related pleadings, exhibits, and agreements in the case file (scope varies by case)
  • Annulment orders/case files
    • Names of parties, case identifiers, and dates of filing and decree
    • Findings supporting annulment and disposition of related issues (property, support, custody), when addressed
    • Associated pleadings and exhibits in the case file (often sensitive in nature)

Privacy or legal restrictions

  • Vital records confidentiality
    • In Virginia, vital records (including marriage records maintained by the state) are subject to statutory and administrative access controls. Access to certified copies is generally limited to eligible requesters, and identification/fees are typically required.
  • Court record access and sealed/confidential matters
    • Divorce and annulment records are court records; public access is governed by Virginia law and court policy.
    • Certain materials may be sealed by court order or treated as confidential due to statutes and rules protecting sensitive information (for example, records involving minors, adoption-related content, or protected personal identifiers).
    • Copies provided by the clerk may be redacted to comply with privacy protections and applicable rules on personal data.
  • Certified vs. informational copies
    • Clerks and the state vital records office distinguish between certified copies (for legal purposes) and informational/non-certified copies (where available). Certified copies typically have stricter access requirements.

Education, Employment and Housing

Surry County is a small, rural county in southeastern Virginia on the south side of the James River, opposite the Jamestown/Williamsburg area, with a county seat in Surry. The community context is shaped by low-density settlement patterns, a large land area in farms/woodlands, and a locally prominent industrial employer (the Surry Nuclear Power Station) alongside public-sector and service employment.

Education Indicators

Public schools (count and names)

Surry County Public Schools operates 3 public schools serving PK–12:

  • Surry Elementary School
  • Luther Porter Jackson Middle School
  • Surry County High School

School listing and district profiles are available via the Surry County Public Schools website and the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) data reports.

Student–teacher ratios and graduation

  • Student–teacher ratio: A commonly cited systemwide ratio for Surry County public schools is approximately 12:1–14:1 (proxy based on recent district/school profile reporting; exact ratio varies by year and school).
  • Graduation rate (4-year cohort): Virginia publishes annual, school- and division-level on-time graduation rates through VDOE; Surry County’s rate is typically reported in the high-80% to low-90% range in recent years (proxy summary where a single “most recent year” value is not reproduced here due to annual updates). The authoritative current value is in VDOE’s annual graduation and completion reporting (VDOE data reports).

Adult educational attainment

Based on the most recent American Community Survey (ACS) profile-style estimates commonly used for county comparisons (5‑year ACS):

  • High school diploma or higher (age 25+): approximately 80%–85%
  • Bachelor’s degree or higher (age 25+): approximately 15%–20%

These levels are generally below Virginia statewide attainment, reflecting rural demographics and a smaller concentration of four-year degree occupations. Reference tables are available through the U.S. Census Bureau’s data portal.

Notable academic and career programs (district-level)

Programs vary year to year, but Surry County’s secondary offerings commonly include:

  • Career and Technical Education (CTE) pathways (trade/technical and workforce-aligned coursework)
  • Dual enrollment/college-credit options (delivered through regional postsecondary partnerships in many Virginia divisions)
  • Advanced coursework (Advanced Placement offerings tend to be limited in smaller divisions, but advanced/college-prep options are typically present)

Program catalogs and current course offerings are maintained by the division (Surry County Public Schools).

School safety measures and counseling supports

Virginia school divisions generally operate under required safety planning and reporting frameworks (emergency operations plans, safety drills, visitor controls, and coordination with law enforcement). Counseling resources typically include school counselors at the middle and high school levels and student support services (often supplemented by regional mental-health/community services). Division-specific safety and student support information is published in board policies and school handbooks available through the district’s official materials (Surry County Public Schools). Statewide requirements and guidance are maintained by VDOE (Virginia Department of Education).

Employment and Economic Conditions

Unemployment rate (most recent year)

Surry County’s unemployment is tracked by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (LAUS). The most recent annual average county unemployment rate is typically in the low single digits in the post‑2022 period (proxy summary due to rolling annual updates). The definitive current annual average is available from BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics and Virginia’s labor market dashboards via the Virginia Works system.

Major industries and employment base

Major employment drivers and sectors include:

  • Utilities / power generation (anchored by the Surry Nuclear Power Station, a major regional employer)
  • Public administration and education (county government and public schools)
  • Health care and social assistance
  • Retail trade and accommodation/food services (smaller rural-service base)
  • Construction and skilled trades
  • Agriculture/forestry-related activity (more prominent than in urban Virginia, though often not a large wage-and-salary share)

Industry mix detail is typically reported in ACS industry tables and state labor market profiles (U.S. Census Bureau; Virginia Works).

Common occupations and workforce breakdown

County occupational structure commonly includes:

  • Management, business, and financial occupations
  • Office and administrative support
  • Service occupations (food, hospitality, protective services)
  • Construction and extraction
  • Installation, maintenance, and repair (including utility-related skilled work)
  • Production and transportation/material moving

Precise shares are published in ACS occupation tables (U.S. Census Bureau).

Commuting patterns and mean commute time

  • Typical commuting pattern: A substantial portion of employed residents commute to nearby job centers in the Hampton Roads–Peninsula area and adjacent counties/cities; in-county employment is concentrated among the utility plant, public sector, and local services.
  • Mean travel time to work: commonly reported around 30 minutes (proxy based on recent rural Tidewater Virginia norms and ACS-style reporting; the authoritative county mean is in ACS commuting tables).

Commuting metrics (mean travel time, mode share, and workplace geography) are available through ACS commute/workplace tables (U.S. Census Bureau).

Local employment vs. out-of-county work

Surry County typically exhibits net out-commuting for a meaningful share of residents (more residents work outside the county than jobs held by residents within county boundaries), reflecting limited local job density outside the largest industrial site and public-sector employers. The most direct measurement is provided by workplace-residence origin/destination products such as the LEHD OnTheMap tool (U.S. Census Bureau).

Housing and Real Estate

Homeownership and rental share

Surry County is characterized by a high homeownership rate typical of rural Virginia:

  • Owner-occupied housing: approximately 75%–85%
  • Renter-occupied housing: approximately 15%–25%

These are ACS-style profile estimates; the definitive current shares are available via U.S. Census Bureau housing tables.

Median property values and recent trends

  • Median home value: commonly in the mid-$200,000s to low-$300,000s range in recent ACS-based estimates (proxy summary due to year-to-year updates and small-county sampling variability).
  • Trend: Values generally rose from 2020–2024 in line with statewide patterns, with rural markets often showing fewer transactions and more variability.

The most consistently comparable “median value of owner-occupied housing units” is published in ACS, while transaction-based trends are typically tracked by regional REALTOR associations and commercial market datasets (ACS reference: U.S. Census Bureau).

Typical rent prices

  • Median gross rent: commonly around $1,000–$1,200 per month (proxy range consistent with recent rural/coastal Virginia rents; local listings vary substantially by unit type and availability). The ACS “median gross rent” remains the standard public benchmark (U.S. Census Bureau).

Housing types and built form

  • Predominantly single-family detached homes on larger lots and rural parcels
  • Manufactured housing/mobile homes present at a higher share than in urban counties
  • Limited multifamily/apartment stock, concentrated near the main settlement areas and along key roads

This composition aligns with rural land use patterns and lower-density zoning typical in the county.

Neighborhood characteristics and access to amenities

  • Residential areas are often rural, with longer drives to retail, healthcare, and recreation compared with metro counties.
  • School proximity: Because there are only a few schools serving the entire county, student catchment areas are broad; many households are not within short walking distance and rely on buses or driving.
  • Regional access: Proximity to the James River crossing and connections toward the Peninsula influences where households cluster and commute.

Property taxes (rate and typical cost)

  • Tax structure: Virginia localities primarily levy real estate taxes as a rate per $100 of assessed value, plus other local levies/fees.
  • Surry County rate and typical bill: The current real estate tax rate and representative tax bills by assessed value are published by the county. Because rates can change by fiscal year, the definitive figures are maintained in Surry County’s commissioner/treasurer materials and budget documents (county reference portal: Surry County, Virginia).

Where a single “average homeowner cost” is required, the most comparable public proxy is median annual owner costs (with and without a mortgage) from ACS, which bundles taxes, insurance, utilities, and mortgage payments rather than isolating property tax alone (U.S. Census Bureau).