Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Boulder, Montana
A $195,000 home here costs
$1,652per 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 $71,000 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,063. The real number is $589 higher every month, 55% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Jefferson County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for Boulder from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 1,326 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 Jefferson 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.
Boulder against Jefferson County and Montana
| Measure | Boulder | Jefferson County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $194,800 | $408,000 |
| Median property tax | $1,906 | $2,274 |
| Effective tax rate | 0.978% | 0.557% |
| Median gross rent | $692 | $886 |
| Population | 1,326 | 12,501 |
The weather behind that power bill
Boulder sits in Jefferson County, which averages a high of 82.5°F in its hottest month and a low of 11.5°F in its coldest, with 10.8" of precipitation a year and 51% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 157 cooling and 8,312 heating degree days, which is what sets the $133 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 Montana
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Boulder 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 Boulder every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Boulder I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Boulder?
A $195,000 home in Boulder, Montana costs approximately $1,652 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $1,063 principal and interest, $159 property tax, $67 homeowners insurance, $201 utilities and $163 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Boulder?
Boulder has an effective property tax rate of 0.978%, based on a median home value of $194,800 and median real estate taxes of $1,906. That is higher than the Jefferson County average of 0.557%.
What is the average home price in Boulder?
The median owner-occupied home value in Boulder, Montana is $194,800, against $408,000 across Jefferson County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Boulder?
Median gross rent in Boulder is $692 a month, against $1,652 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 Boulder?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Boulder, Montana at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $71,000 a year. That covers the full $1,652 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Boulder, US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
- Homeowners insurance, NAIC average premium for Montana.
- 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.