Cost to Own
United States › New Jersey › Atlantic County › Buena Population 4,500 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 $1,066 a month in taxes, insurance, utilities and upkeep. See the full Atlantic County picture

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in Buena, New Jersey

A $249,000 home here costs

$2,424

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 $104,000 a year.

P&I 56%Tax 23%Insurance 3%Utilities 10%Upkeep 9%

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,358. The real number is $1,066 higher every month, 79% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

Compare Atlantic County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown

Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for Buena from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 4,500 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 Atlantic County figures are drawn from a far larger sample if you want a steadier number.

Buena median: $249,100
Under 20% adds PMI
Freddie Mac PMMS
NJ 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, $199,200 borrowed $1,358
Property tax2.731% effective rate for Buena itself $567
Homeowners insuranceNew Jersey averages $1,309/yr (NAIC), or 0.294% of home value $61
Electricity24.61ยข/kWh, New Jersey residential average, EIA $163
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $208
Total monthly $2,424

Buena against Atlantic County and New Jersey

MeasureBuenaAtlantic County
Median home value$249,100$272,700
Median property tax$6,804$6,749
Effective tax rate2.731%2.475%
Median gross rent$1,138$1,325
Population4,500274,704

The weather behind that power bill

Buena sits in Atlantic County, which averages a high of 86.6°F in its hottest month and a low of 25.1°F in its coldest, with 45.96" of precipitation a year and 28% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 1,136 cooling and 4,701 heating degree days, which is what sets the $163 electricity line above.

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

Other cities in Atlantic County

Full Atlantic County cost breakdown · Every county in New Jersey

Talk to someone who works this market

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

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

Common questions

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

A $249,000 home in Buena, New Jersey costs approximately $2,424 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $1,358 principal and interest, $567 property tax, $61 homeowners insurance, $231 utilities and $208 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in Buena?

Buena has an effective property tax rate of 2.731%, based on a median home value of $249,100 and median real estate taxes of $6,804. That is higher than the Atlantic County average of 2.475%.

What is the average home price in Buena?

The median owner-occupied home value in Buena, New Jersey is $249,100, against $272,700 across Atlantic County.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Buena?

Median gross rent in Buena is $1,138 a month, against $2,424 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 Buena?

Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Buena, New Jersey at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $104,000 a year. That covers the full $2,424 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.

Sources & methodology

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