Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Brown City, Michigan
A $121,000 home here costs
$1,124per 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 $48,000 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $660. The real number is $464 higher every month, 70% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Lapeer County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for Brown City from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 1,211 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 Lapeer 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.
Brown City against Lapeer County and Michigan
| Measure | Brown City | Lapeer County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $121,400 | $229,100 |
| Median property tax | $1,299 | $2,185 |
| Effective tax rate | 1.070% | 0.954% |
| Median gross rent | $805 | $959 |
| Population | 1,211 | 88,703 |
Brown City extends across 2 counties. Figures here use Lapeer County, where most of its housing sits.
The weather behind that power bill
Brown City sits in Lapeer County, which averages a high of 82.4°F in its hottest month and a low of 15.1°F in its coldest, with 31.89" of precipitation a year and 30% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 571 cooling and 6,942 heating degree days, which is what sets the $142 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Lapeer County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Lapeer County
Full Lapeer County cost breakdown · Every county in Michigan
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Brown City 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 Brown City every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Brown City I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Brown City?
A $121,000 home in Brown City, Michigan costs approximately $1,124 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $660 principal and interest, $108 property tax, $45 homeowners insurance, $210 utilities and $101 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Brown City?
Brown City has an effective property tax rate of 1.070%, based on a median home value of $121,400 and median real estate taxes of $1,299. That is higher than the Lapeer County average of 0.954%.
What is the average home price in Brown City?
The median owner-occupied home value in Brown City, Michigan is $121,400, against $229,100 across Lapeer County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Brown City?
Median gross rent in Brown City is $805 a month, against $1,124 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 Brown City?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Brown City, Michigan at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $48,000 a year. That covers the full $1,124 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Brown City, US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
- Homeowners insurance, NAIC average premium for Michigan.
- 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.