Cost to Own
United States › Minnesota › Clay County › Barnesville Population 2,757 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 $664 a month in taxes, insurance, utilities and upkeep. See the full Clay County picture

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in Barnesville, Minnesota

A $218,000 home here costs

$1,852

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 $79,500 a year.

P&I 64%Tax 11%Insurance 5%Utilities 10%Upkeep 10%

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,189. The real number is $664 higher every month, 56% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

Compare Clay County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown

Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for Barnesville from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 2,757 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 Clay County figures are drawn from a far larger sample if you want a steadier number.

Barnesville median: $218,300
Under 20% adds PMI
Freddie Mac PMMS
MN 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, $174,400 borrowed $1,189
Property tax1.085% effective rate for Barnesville itself $197
Homeowners insuranceMinnesota averages $1,607/yr (NAIC), or 0.521% of home value $95
Electricity17.2ยข/kWh, Minnesota residential average, EIA $122
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $182
Total monthly $1,852

Barnesville against Clay County and Minnesota

MeasureBarnesvilleClay County
Median home value$218,300$256,000
Median property tax$2,369$2,854
Effective tax rate1.085%1.115%
Median gross rent$862$1,000
Population2,75765,628

The weather behind that power bill

Barnesville sits in Clay County, which averages a high of 82.1°F in its hottest month and a low of 0.2°F in its coldest, with 23.95" of precipitation a year and 44% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 542 cooling and 8,806 heating degree days, which is what sets the $122 electricity line above.

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

Other cities in Clay County

Full Clay County cost breakdown · Every county in Minnesota

Talk to someone who works this market

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

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

Common questions

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

A $218,000 home in Barnesville, Minnesota costs approximately $1,852 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $1,189 principal and interest, $197 property tax, $95 homeowners insurance, $190 utilities and $182 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in Barnesville?

Barnesville has an effective property tax rate of 1.085%, based on a median home value of $218,300 and median real estate taxes of $2,369. That is lower than the Clay County average of 1.115%.

What is the average home price in Barnesville?

The median owner-occupied home value in Barnesville, Minnesota is $218,300, against $256,000 across Clay County.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Barnesville?

Median gross rent in Barnesville is $862 a month, against $1,852 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 Barnesville?

Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Barnesville, Minnesota at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $79,500 a year. That covers the full $1,852 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.

Sources & methodology

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