Cost to Own
United States › Pennsylvania › Centre County › Bellefonte Population 6,022 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 $754 a month in taxes, insurance, utilities and upkeep. See the full Centre County picture

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania

A $233,000 home here costs

$2,024

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 $87,000 a year.

P&I 63%Tax 12%Insurance 4%Utilities 12%Upkeep 10%

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,270. The real number is $754 higher every month, 59% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

Compare Centre County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown

Bellefonte median: $232,500
Under 20% adds PMI
Freddie Mac PMMS
PA 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, $186,400 borrowed $1,270
Property tax1.216% effective rate for Bellefonte itself $236
Homeowners insurancePennsylvania averages $1,014/yr (NAIC), or 0.401% of home value $78
Electricity21.77ยข/kWh, Pennsylvania residential average, EIA $178
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $194
Total monthly $2,024

Bellefonte against Centre County and Pennsylvania

MeasureBellefonteCentre County
Median home value$232,500$308,100
Median property tax$2,827$3,282
Effective tax rate1.216%1.065%
Median gross rent$900$1,181
Population6,022158,041

The weather behind that power bill

Bellefonte sits in Centre County, which averages a high of 81.1°F in its hottest month and a low of 20.5°F in its coldest, with 41.53" of precipitation a year and 29% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 666 cooling and 6,049 heating degree days, which is what sets the $178 electricity line above.

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

Other cities in Centre County

Full Centre County cost breakdown · Every county in Pennsylvania

Talk to someone who works this market

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

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

Common questions

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

A $233,000 home in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania costs approximately $2,024 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $1,270 principal and interest, $236 property tax, $78 homeowners insurance, $246 utilities and $194 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in Bellefonte?

Bellefonte has an effective property tax rate of 1.216%, based on a median home value of $232,500 and median real estate taxes of $2,827. That is higher than the Centre County average of 1.065%.

What is the average home price in Bellefonte?

The median owner-occupied home value in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania is $232,500, against $308,100 across Centre County.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Bellefonte?

Median gross rent in Bellefonte is $900 a month, against $2,024 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 Bellefonte?

Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $87,000 a year. That covers the full $2,024 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.

Sources & methodology

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