Cost to Own
United StatesWest VirginiaJefferson CountyBolivar Population 1,317 Data vintage ACS 2023 5-Year Rates updated 2026-07-30

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in Bolivar, West Virginia

A $254,000 home here costs

$1,999

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

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,306. The real number is $693 higher every month — 53% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

Bolivar median: $253,700
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, $203,200 borrowed $1,306
Property tax0.609% effective rate for Bolivar itself $129
Homeowners insuranceWest Virginia averages $1,016/yr (NAIC), or 0.632% of home value $134
Electricity16.8¢/kWh — West Virginia residential average, EIA $151
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $212
Total monthly $1,999

Bolivar against Jefferson County and West Virginia

MeasureBolivarJefferson County
Median home value$253,700$324,500
Median property tax$1,544$1,796
Effective tax rate0.609%0.553%
Median gross rent$1,420$1,103
Population1,31758,546

The weather behind that power bill

Bolivar sits in Jefferson County, which averages a high of 86.9°F in its hottest month and a low of 23.5°F in its coldest, with 38.97" of precipitation a year and 30% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 1,013 cooling and 4,947 heating degree days, which is what sets the $151 electricity line above.

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

Other cities in Jefferson County

Full Jefferson County cost breakdown · Every county in West Virginia

Common questions

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

A $254,000 home in Bolivar, West Virginia costs approximately $1,999 per month with 20% down at 6.66%. That is $1,306 principal and interest, $129 property tax, $134 homeowners insurance, $219 utilities and $212 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in Bolivar?

Bolivar has an effective property tax rate of 0.609%, based on a median home value of $253,700 and median real estate taxes of $1,544. That is higher than the Jefferson County average of 0.553%.

What is the average home price in Bolivar?

The median owner-occupied home value in Bolivar, West Virginia is $253,700, against $324,500 across Jefferson County.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Bolivar?

Median gross rent in Bolivar is $1,420 a month, against $1,999 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 Bolivar — US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
  • Homeowners insurance — NAIC average premium for West 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