Cost to Own
United States › Alaska › Fairbanks North Star Borough › Badger Population 19,033 Data vintage ACS 2023 5-Year Rates updated 2026-10-29
The part nobody budgets Even with the mortgage fully paid off, the median home here still costs $849 a month in taxes, insurance, utilities and upkeep. See the full Fairbanks North Star Borough picture

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in Badger, Alaska

A $292,000 home here costs

$2,441

per 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 $104,500 a year.

P&I 65%Tax 12%Insurance 3%Utilities 10%Upkeep 10%

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,592. The real number is $849 higher every month, 53% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

Compare Fairbanks North Star Borough with anywhere in America · full county breakdown

Badger median: $291,600
Under 20% adds PMI
Freddie Mac PMMS
AK 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, $233,600 borrowed $1,592
Property tax1.190% effective rate for Badger itself $290
Homeowners insuranceAlaska averages $1,067/yr (NAIC), or 0.321% of home value $78
Electricity29.41ยข/kWh, Alaska residential average, EIA $170
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $243
Total monthly $2,441

Badger against Fairbanks North Star Borough and Alaska

MeasureBadgerFairbanks North Star Borough
Median home value$291,600$282,500
Median property tax$3,471$3,570
Effective tax rate1.190%1.264%
Median gross rent$1,672$1,424
Population19,03395,555

The weather behind that power bill

Badger sits in Fairbanks North Star Borough, which averages a high of 71.6°F in its hottest month and a low of -17.6°F in its coldest, with 12.88" of precipitation a year and 57% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 34 cooling and 13,878 heating degree days, which is what sets the $170 electricity line above.

See the full climate breakdown for Fairbanks North Star Borough , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.

Other cities in Fairbanks North Star Borough

Full Fairbanks North Star Borough cost breakdown · Every county in Alaska

Talk to someone who works this market

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

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

Common questions

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

A $292,000 home in Badger, Alaska costs approximately $2,441 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $1,592 principal and interest, $290 property tax, $78 homeowners insurance, $238 utilities and $243 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in Badger?

Badger has an effective property tax rate of 1.190%, based on a median home value of $291,600 and median real estate taxes of $3,471. That is lower than the Fairbanks North Star Borough average of 1.264%.

What is the average home price in Badger?

The median owner-occupied home value in Badger, Alaska is $291,600, against $282,500 across Fairbanks North Star Borough.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Badger?

Median gross rent in Badger is $1,672 a month, against $2,441 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 Badger?

Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Badger, Alaska at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $104,500 a year. That covers the full $2,441 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.

Sources & methodology

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