Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Alturas, California
A $153,000 home here costs
$1,301per month, all in, with 20% down at today's 7.24% 30-year fixed rate. By the 28% rule that takes a household income of about $56,000 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $834. The real number is $467 higher every month, 56% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Modoc County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for Alturas from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 2,703 residents that sample is small. The median home value here carries a much wider margin of error than a big-city figure does, so treat it as indicative rather than exact. The Modoc County figures are drawn from a far larger sample if you want a steadier number.
Where every dollar goes
Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.
Alturas against Modoc County and California
| Measure | Alturas | Modoc County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $152,600 | $212,000 |
| Median property tax | $1,175 | $1,445 |
| Effective tax rate | 0.770% | 0.682% |
| Median gross rent | $781 | $818 |
| Population | 2,703 | 8,646 |
The weather behind that power bill
Alturas sits in Modoc County, which averages a high of 89.1°F in its hottest month and a low of 20.0°F in its coldest, with 11.68" of precipitation a year and 35% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 235 cooling and 6,558 heating degree days, which is what sets the $150 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Modoc County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Modoc County
No other places of this size are published in Modoc County.
Full Modoc County cost breakdown · Every county in California
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Alturas 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 Alturas every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Alturas I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Alturas?
A $153,000 home in Alturas, California costs approximately $1,301 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $834 principal and interest, $98 property tax, $24 homeowners insurance, $218 utilities and $128 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Alturas?
Alturas has an effective property tax rate of 0.770%, based on a median home value of $152,600 and median real estate taxes of $1,175. That is higher than the Modoc County average of 0.682%.
What is the average home price in Alturas?
The median owner-occupied home value in Alturas, California is $152,600, against $212,000 across Modoc County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Alturas?
Median gross rent in Alturas is $781 a month, against $1,301 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 Alturas?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Alturas, California at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $56,000 a year. That covers the full $1,301 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Alturas, US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
- Homeowners insurance, NAIC average premium for California.
- 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.