Cost to Own
United States › North Carolina › Dare County › Buxton Population 1,451 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 $837 a month in taxes, insurance, utilities and upkeep. See the full Dare County picture

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in Buxton, North Carolina

A $385,000 home here costs

$2,936

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 $126,000 a year.

P&I 71%Tax 5%Insurance 5%Utilities 7%Upkeep 11%

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $2,099. The real number is $837 higher every month, 40% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

Compare Dare County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown

Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for Buxton from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 1,451 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 Dare County figures are drawn from a far larger sample if you want a steadier number.

Buxton median: $385,400
Under 20% adds PMI
Freddie Mac PMMS
NC 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, $308,000 borrowed $2,099
Property tax0.489% effective rate for Buxton itself $157
Homeowners insuranceNorth Carolina averages $1,192/yr (NAIC), or 0.435% of home value $140
Electricity14.95ยข/kWh, North Carolina residential average, EIA $152
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $321
Total monthly $2,936

Buxton against Dare County and North Carolina

MeasureBuxtonDare County
Median home value$385,400$425,400
Median property tax$1,885$2,245
Effective tax rate0.489%0.528%
Median gross rent$1,295$1,307
Population1,45137,534

The weather behind that power bill

Buxton sits in Dare County, which averages a high of 85.8°F in its hottest month and a low of 35.6°F in its coldest, with 46.55" of precipitation a year and 33% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 1,705 cooling and 2,891 heating degree days, which is what sets the $152 electricity line above.

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

Other cities in Dare County

Full Dare County cost breakdown · Every county in North Carolina

Talk to someone who works this market

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

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

Common questions

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

A $385,000 home in Buxton, North Carolina costs approximately $2,936 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $2,099 principal and interest, $157 property tax, $140 homeowners insurance, $220 utilities and $321 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in Buxton?

Buxton has an effective property tax rate of 0.489%, based on a median home value of $385,400 and median real estate taxes of $1,885. That is lower than the Dare County average of 0.528%.

What is the average home price in Buxton?

The median owner-occupied home value in Buxton, North Carolina is $385,400, against $425,400 across Dare County.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Buxton?

Median gross rent in Buxton is $1,295 a month, against $2,936 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 Buxton?

Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Buxton, North Carolina at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $126,000 a year. That covers the full $2,936 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.

Sources & methodology

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