Cost to Own
United StatesCaliforniaSan Bernardino CountyBig River Population 1,025 Data vintage ACS 2023 5-Year Rates updated 2026-07-30

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in Big River, California

A $132,000 home here costs

$1,248

per month, all in — with 20% down at today's 6.66% 30-year fixed rate.

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $679. The real number is $569 higher every month — 84% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

Big River median: $132,400
Under 20% adds PMI
Freddie Mac PMMS
US 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, $105,600 borrowed $679
Property tax0.655% effective rate for Big River itself $72
Homeowners insuranceCalifornia averages $1,403/yr (NAIC), or 0.186% of home value $20
Electricity33.25¢/kWh — California residential average, EIA $299
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $110
Total monthly $1,248

Big River against San Bernardino County and California

MeasureBig RiverSan Bernardino County
Median home value$132,400$475,000
Median property tax$867$3,346
Effective tax rate0.655%0.704%
Median gross rent$795$1,706
Population1,0252,187,816

The weather behind that power bill

Big River sits in San Bernardino County, which averages a high of 105.0°F in its hottest month and a low of 35.0°F in its coldest, with 3.77" of precipitation a year and 49% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 3,129 cooling and 2,019 heating degree days, which is what sets the $299 electricity line above.

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

Other cities in San Bernardino County

Full San Bernardino County cost breakdown · Every county in California

Common questions

How much does it cost to own a home in Big River?

A $132,000 home in Big River, California costs approximately $1,248 per month with 20% down at 6.66%. That is $679 principal and interest, $72 property tax, $20 homeowners insurance, $367 utilities and $110 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in Big River?

Big River has an effective property tax rate of 0.655%, based on a median home value of $132,400 and median real estate taxes of $867. That is lower than the San Bernardino County average of 0.704%.

What is the average home price in Big River?

The median owner-occupied home value in Big River, California is $132,400, against $475,000 across San Bernardino County.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Big River?

Median gross rent in Big River is $795 a month, against $1,248 to own the median home all in. Renting costs less month to month here, though renting builds no equity.

Sources & methodology

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