Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Benton, Tennessee
A $168,000 home here costs
$1,426per 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 $61,000 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $916. The real number is $510 higher every month, 56% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Polk County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for Benton from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 1,349 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 Polk County figures are drawn from a far larger sample if you want a steadier number.
Where every dollar goes
Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.
Benton against Polk County and Tennessee
| Measure | Benton | Polk County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $167,700 | $136,400 |
| Median property tax | $921 | $770 |
| Effective tax rate | 0.549% | 0.565% |
| Median gross rent | $530 | $668 |
| Population | 1,349 | 17,702 |
The weather behind that power bill
Benton sits in Polk County, which averages a high of 89.0°F in its hottest month and a low of 29.4°F in its coldest, with 57.62" of precipitation a year and 27% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 1,542 cooling and 3,474 heating degree days, which is what sets the $155 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Polk County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Polk County
No other places of this size are published in Polk County.
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Benton 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 Benton every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Benton I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Benton?
A $168,000 home in Benton, Tennessee costs approximately $1,426 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $916 principal and interest, $77 property tax, $71 homeowners insurance, $223 utilities and $140 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Benton?
Benton has an effective property tax rate of 0.549%, based on a median home value of $167,700 and median real estate taxes of $921. That is lower than the Polk County average of 0.565%.
What is the average home price in Benton?
The median owner-occupied home value in Benton, Tennessee is $167,700, against $136,400 across Polk County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Benton?
Median gross rent in Benton is $530 a month, against $1,426 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 Benton?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Benton, Tennessee at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $61,000 a year. That covers the full $1,426 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Benton, US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
- Homeowners insurance, NAIC average premium for Tennessee.
- 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.