Cost to Own
United States › Washington › Kitsap County › Bethel Population 4,276 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 $916 a month in taxes, insurance, utilities and upkeep. See the full Kitsap County picture

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in Bethel, Washington

A $441,000 home here costs

$3,320

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 $142,500 a year.

P&I 72%Tax 8%Insurance 2%Utilities 6%Upkeep 11%

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $2,404. The real number is $916 higher every month, 38% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

Compare Kitsap County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown

Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for Bethel from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 4,276 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 Kitsap County figures are drawn from a far larger sample if you want a steadier number.

Bethel median: $440,800
Under 20% adds PMI
Freddie Mac PMMS
WA 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, $352,800 borrowed $2,404
Property tax0.748% effective rate for Bethel itself $275
Homeowners insuranceWashington averages $1,001/yr (NAIC), or 0.178% of home value $65
Electricity14.63ยข/kWh, Washington residential average, EIA $140
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $368
Total monthly $3,320

Bethel against Kitsap County and Washington

MeasureBethelKitsap County
Median home value$440,800$505,700
Median property tax$3,299$4,030
Effective tax rate0.748%0.797%
Median gross rent$1,195$1,741
Population4,276276,581

The weather behind that power bill

Bethel sits in Kitsap County, which averages a high of 77.3°F in its hottest month and a low of 35.0°F in its coldest, with 56.93" of precipitation a year and 49% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 193 cooling and 4,825 heating degree days, which is what sets the $140 electricity line above.

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

Other cities in Kitsap County

Full Kitsap County cost breakdown · Every county in Washington

Talk to someone who works this market

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

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

Common questions

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

A $441,000 home in Bethel, Washington costs approximately $3,320 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $2,404 principal and interest, $275 property tax, $65 homeowners insurance, $208 utilities and $368 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in Bethel?

Bethel has an effective property tax rate of 0.748%, based on a median home value of $440,800 and median real estate taxes of $3,299. That is lower than the Kitsap County average of 0.797%.

What is the average home price in Bethel?

The median owner-occupied home value in Bethel, Washington is $440,800, against $505,700 across Kitsap County.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Bethel?

Median gross rent in Bethel is $1,195 a month, against $3,320 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 Bethel?

Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Bethel, Washington at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $142,500 a year. That covers the full $3,320 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.

Sources & methodology

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