Cost to Own
United States › Virginia › Montgomery County › Blacksburg Population 45,288 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 $978 a month in taxes, insurance, utilities and upkeep. See the full Montgomery County picture

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in Blacksburg, Virginia

A $417,000 home here costs

$3,252

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 $139,500 a year.

P&I 70%Tax 9%Insurance 3%Utilities 8%Upkeep 11%

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $2,273. The real number is $978 higher every month, 43% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

Compare Montgomery County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown

Blacksburg median: $417,200
Under 20% adds PMI
Freddie Mac PMMS
VA 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, $333,600 borrowed $2,273
Property tax0.801% effective rate for Blacksburg itself $278
Homeowners insuranceVirginia averages $1,199/yr (NAIC), or 0.295% of home value $103
Electricity17.64ยข/kWh, Virginia residential average, EIA $182
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $348
Total monthly $3,252

Blacksburg against Montgomery County and Virginia

MeasureBlacksburgMontgomery County
Median home value$417,200$283,600
Median property tax$3,341$2,174
Effective tax rate0.801%0.767%
Median gross rent$1,290$1,206
Population45,28899,159

The weather behind that power bill

Blacksburg sits in Montgomery County, which averages a high of 82.3°F in its hottest month and a low of 22.1°F in its coldest, with 42.64" of precipitation a year and 30% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 619 cooling and 5,295 heating degree days, which is what sets the $182 electricity line above.

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

Other cities in Montgomery County

Full Montgomery County cost breakdown · Every county in Virginia

Talk to someone who works this market

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

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

Common questions

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

A $417,000 home in Blacksburg, Virginia costs approximately $3,252 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $2,273 principal and interest, $278 property tax, $103 homeowners insurance, $250 utilities and $348 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in Blacksburg?

Blacksburg has an effective property tax rate of 0.801%, based on a median home value of $417,200 and median real estate taxes of $3,341. That is higher than the Montgomery County average of 0.767%.

What is the average home price in Blacksburg?

The median owner-occupied home value in Blacksburg, Virginia is $417,200, against $283,600 across Montgomery County.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Blacksburg?

Median gross rent in Blacksburg is $1,290 a month, against $3,252 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 Blacksburg?

Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Blacksburg, Virginia at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $139,500 a year. That covers the full $3,252 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.

Sources & methodology

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