Cost to Own
United States › Kansas › Shawnee County › Auburn Population 1,185 Data vintage ACS 2023 5-Year Rates updated 2026-10-15
The part nobody budgets Even with the mortgage fully paid off, the median home here still costs $555 a month in taxes, insurance, utilities and upkeep. See the full Shawnee County picture

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in Auburn, Kansas

A $136,000 home here costs

$1,308

per month, all in, with 20% down at today's 7.40% 30-year fixed rate. By the 28% rule that takes a household income of about $56,000 a year.

P&I 58%Tax 12%Insurance 6%Utilities 15%Upkeep 9%

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $753. The real number is $555 higher every month, 74% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

Compare Shawnee County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown

Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for Auburn from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 1,185 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 Shawnee County figures are drawn from a far larger sample if you want a steadier number.

Auburn median: $135,700
Under 20% adds PMI
Freddie Mac PMMS
KS average household

Where every dollar goes

Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.

Principal & interest30-year fixed, $108,800 borrowed $753
Property tax1.417% effective rate for Auburn itself $161
Homeowners insuranceKansas averages $1,491/yr (NAIC), or 0.7% of home value $79
Electricity15.27ยข/kWh, Kansas residential average, EIA $134
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $113
Total monthly $1,308

Auburn against Shawnee County and Kansas

MeasureAuburnShawnee County
Median home value$135,700$170,400
Median property tax$1,923$2,500
Effective tax rate1.417%1.467%
Median gross rent$889$970
Population1,185178,315

The weather behind that power bill

Auburn sits in Shawnee County, which averages a high of 90.2°F in its hottest month and a low of 20.0°F in its coldest, with 36.53" of precipitation a year and 39% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 1,534 cooling and 4,860 heating degree days, which is what sets the $134 electricity line above.

See the full climate breakdown for Shawnee County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.

Other cities in Shawnee County

Full Shawnee County cost breakdown · Every county in Kansas

Talk to someone who works this market

These are Auburn 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 Auburn every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.

I'm looking to buy in Auburn I already own here and may sell

Common questions

How much does it cost to own a home in Auburn?

A $136,000 home in Auburn, Kansas costs approximately $1,308 per month with 20% down at 7.4%. That is $753 principal and interest, $161 property tax, $79 homeowners insurance, $202 utilities and $113 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in Auburn?

Auburn has an effective property tax rate of 1.417%, based on a median home value of $135,700 and median real estate taxes of $1,923. That is lower than the Shawnee County average of 1.467%.

What is the average home price in Auburn?

The median owner-occupied home value in Auburn, Kansas is $135,700, against $170,400 across Shawnee County.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Auburn?

Median gross rent in Auburn is $889 a month, against $1,308 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 Auburn?

Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Auburn, Kansas at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $56,000 a year. That covers the full $1,308 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.

Sources & methodology

  • Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Auburn, US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
  • Homeowners insurance, NAIC average premium for Kansas.
  • 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.

Full methodology