Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Altoona, Wisconsin
A $221,000 home here costs
$1,933per month, all in, with 20% down at today's 7.32% 30-year fixed rate. By the 28% rule that takes a household income of about $83,000 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,214. The real number is $719 higher every month, 59% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Eau Claire County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Where every dollar goes
Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.
Altoona against Eau Claire County and Wisconsin
| Measure | Altoona | Eau Claire County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $220,900 | $242,400 |
| Median property tax | $3,413 | $3,461 |
| Effective tax rate | 1.545% | 1.428% |
| Median gross rent | $1,157 | $977 |
| Population | 8,750 | 106,328 |
The weather behind that power bill
Altoona sits in Eau Claire County, which averages a high of 82.8°F in its hottest month and a low of 5.8°F in its coldest, with 32.99" of precipitation a year and 38% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 567 cooling and 7,923 heating degree days, which is what sets the $125 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Eau Claire County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Eau Claire County
Full Eau Claire County cost breakdown · Every county in Wisconsin
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Altoona averages. What one specific house costs to own, or what it would sell for today, depends on the street and the condition of the place. We will connect you with one licensed local agent who works Altoona every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Altoona I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Altoona?
A $221,000 home in Altoona, Wisconsin costs approximately $1,933 per month with 20% down at 7.32%. That is $1,214 principal and interest, $285 property tax, $57 homeowners insurance, $193 utilities and $184 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Altoona?
Altoona has an effective property tax rate of 1.545%, based on a median home value of $220,900 and median real estate taxes of $3,413. That is higher than the Eau Claire County average of 1.428%.
What is the average home price in Altoona?
The median owner-occupied home value in Altoona, Wisconsin is $220,900, against $242,400 across Eau Claire County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Altoona?
Median gross rent in Altoona is $1,157 a month, against $1,933 to own the median home all in. Renting costs less month to month here, though renting builds no equity.
What salary do you need to buy a home in Altoona?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Altoona, Wisconsin at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $83,000 a year. That covers the full $1,933 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Altoona, US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
- Homeowners insurance, NAIC average premium for Wisconsin.
- Electricity price, EIA Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.A.
- Mortgage rate, Freddie Mac PMMS, refreshed weekly.
- Maintenance (1%/yr) and water and sewer ($68/mo) are national estimates. Every assumption above is editable.