Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Auburn, Michigan
A $158,000 home here costs
$1,511per 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 $65,000 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $861. The real number is $650 higher every month, 75% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Bay 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 2,045 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 Bay 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.
Auburn against Bay County and Michigan
| Measure | Auburn | Bay County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $157,500 | $135,100 |
| Median property tax | $2,976 | $2,205 |
| Effective tax rate | 1.890% | 1.632% |
| Median gross rent | $1,036 | $809 |
| Population | 2,045 | 103,235 |
The weather behind that power bill
Auburn sits in Bay County, which averages a high of 82.2°F in its hottest month and a low of 16.4°F in its coldest, with 32.12" of precipitation a year and 31% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 631 cooling and 6,782 heating degree days, which is what sets the $142 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Bay County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Bay County
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 $158,000 home in Auburn, Michigan costs approximately $1,511 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $861 principal and interest, $249 property tax, $59 homeowners insurance, $210 utilities and $132 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Auburn?
Auburn has an effective property tax rate of 1.890%, based on a median home value of $157,500 and median real estate taxes of $2,976. That is higher than the Bay County average of 1.632%.
What is the average home price in Auburn?
The median owner-occupied home value in Auburn, Michigan is $157,500, against $135,100 across Bay County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Auburn?
Median gross rent in Auburn is $1,036 a month, against $1,511 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, Michigan at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $65,000 a year. That covers the full $1,511 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 Michigan.
- 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.