Cost to Own
United States › Arizona › Cochise County › Benson Population 5,331 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 $469 a month in taxes, insurance, utilities and upkeep. See the full Cochise County picture

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in Benson, Arizona

A $146,000 home here costs

$1,265

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 $54,000 a year.

P&I 63%Tax 7%Insurance 2%Utilities 18%Upkeep 10%

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $796. The real number is $469 higher every month, 59% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

Compare Cochise County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown

Benson median: $145,700
Under 20% adds PMI
Freddie Mac PMMS
AZ 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, $116,800 borrowed $796
Property tax0.717% effective rate for Benson itself $87
Homeowners insuranceArizona averages $917/yr (NAIC), or 0.252% of home value $31
Electricity15.05ยข/kWh, Arizona residential average, EIA $162
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $122
Total monthly $1,265

Benson against Cochise County and Arizona

MeasureBensonCochise County
Median home value$145,700$207,400
Median property tax$1,045$1,325
Effective tax rate0.717%0.639%
Median gross rent$759$939
Population5,331125,458

The weather behind that power bill

Benson sits in Cochise County, which averages a high of 94.8°F in its hottest month and a low of 29.1°F in its coldest, with 12.19" of precipitation a year and 57% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 1,581 cooling and 2,827 heating degree days, which is what sets the $162 electricity line above.

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

Other cities in Cochise County

Full Cochise County cost breakdown · Every county in Arizona

Talk to someone who works this market

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

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

Common questions

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

A $146,000 home in Benson, Arizona costs approximately $1,265 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $796 principal and interest, $87 property tax, $31 homeowners insurance, $230 utilities and $122 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in Benson?

Benson has an effective property tax rate of 0.717%, based on a median home value of $145,700 and median real estate taxes of $1,045. That is higher than the Cochise County average of 0.639%.

What is the average home price in Benson?

The median owner-occupied home value in Benson, Arizona is $145,700, against $207,400 across Cochise County.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Benson?

Median gross rent in Benson is $759 a month, against $1,265 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 Benson?

Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Benson, Arizona at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $54,000 a year. That covers the full $1,265 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.

Sources & methodology

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