Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Baldwin City, Kansas
A $242,000 home here costs
$2,074per month, all in — with 20% down at today's 6.66% 30-year fixed rate.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,244. The real number is $830 higher every month — 67% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Where every dollar goes
Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.
Baldwin City against Douglas County and Kansas
| Measure | Baldwin City | Douglas County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $242,100 | $281,600 |
| Median property tax | $3,399 | $3,508 |
| Effective tax rate | 1.404% | 1.246% |
| Median gross rent | $1,020 | $1,066 |
| Population | 4,881 | 119,547 |
The weather behind that power bill
Baldwin City sits in Douglas County, which averages a high of 87.7°F in its hottest month and a low of 18.4°F in its coldest, with 37.74" of precipitation a year and 38% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 1,299 cooling and 5,212 heating degree days, which is what sets the $136 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Douglas County — month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Douglas County
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Baldwin City?
A $242,000 home in Baldwin City, Kansas costs approximately $2,074 per month with 20% down at 6.66%. That is $1,244 principal and interest, $283 property tax, $141 homeowners insurance, $204 utilities and $202 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Baldwin City?
Baldwin City has an effective property tax rate of 1.404%, based on a median home value of $242,100 and median real estate taxes of $3,399. That is higher than the Douglas County average of 1.246%.
What is the average home price in Baldwin City?
The median owner-occupied home value in Baldwin City, Kansas is $242,100, against $281,600 across Douglas County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Baldwin City?
Median gross rent in Baldwin City is $1,020 a month, against $2,074 to own the median home all in. Renting costs less month to month here, though renting builds no equity.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Baldwin City — 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.