Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Athens, Wisconsin
A $168,000 home here costs
$1,497per 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 $64,000 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $916. The real number is $581 higher every month, 63% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Marathon County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for Athens from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 1,005 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 Marathon 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.
Athens against Marathon County and Wisconsin
| Measure | Athens | Marathon County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $168,100 | $205,500 |
| Median property tax | $2,456 | $3,108 |
| Effective tax rate | 1.461% | 1.512% |
| Median gross rent | $686 | $950 |
| Population | 1,005 | 138,067 |
The weather behind that power bill
Athens sits in Marathon County, which averages a high of 80.3°F in its hottest month and a low of 6.7°F in its coldest, with 33.91" of precipitation a year and 37% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 422 cooling and 8,174 heating degree days, which is what sets the $125 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Marathon County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Marathon County
Full Marathon County cost breakdown · Every county in Wisconsin
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Athens 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 Athens every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Athens I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Athens?
A $168,000 home in Athens, Wisconsin costs approximately $1,497 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $916 principal and interest, $205 property tax, $43 homeowners insurance, $193 utilities and $140 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Athens?
Athens has an effective property tax rate of 1.461%, based on a median home value of $168,100 and median real estate taxes of $2,456. That is lower than the Marathon County average of 1.512%.
What is the average home price in Athens?
The median owner-occupied home value in Athens, Wisconsin is $168,100, against $205,500 across Marathon County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Athens?
Median gross rent in Athens is $686 a month, against $1,497 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 Athens?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Athens, Wisconsin at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $64,000 a year. That covers the full $1,497 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Athens, 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.