Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Calais, Maine
A $112,000 home here costs
$1,123per 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 $611. The real number is $512 higher every month, 84% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Washington County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for Calais from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 3,087 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 Washington 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.
Calais against Washington County and Maine
| Measure | Calais | Washington County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $111,800 | $147,100 |
| Median property tax | $1,691 | $1,654 |
| Effective tax rate | 1.513% | 1.124% |
| Median gross rent | $815 | $768 |
| Population | 3,087 | 31,261 |
The weather behind that power bill
Calais sits in Washington County, which averages a high of 77.0°F in its hottest month and a low of 10.9°F in its coldest, with 49.35" of precipitation a year and 31% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 260 cooling and 7,761 heating degree days, which is what sets the $177 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Washington County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Washington County
Full Washington County cost breakdown · Every county in Maine
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Calais 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 Calais every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Calais I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Calais?
A $112,000 home in Calais, Maine costs approximately $1,123 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $611 principal and interest, $141 property tax, $33 homeowners insurance, $245 utilities and $93 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Calais?
Calais has an effective property tax rate of 1.513%, based on a median home value of $111,800 and median real estate taxes of $1,691. That is higher than the Washington County average of 1.124%.
What is the average home price in Calais?
The median owner-occupied home value in Calais, Maine is $111,800, against $147,100 across Washington County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Calais?
Median gross rent in Calais is $815 a month, against $1,123 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 Calais?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Calais, Maine at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $48,000 a year. That covers the full $1,123 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Calais, US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
- Homeowners insurance, NAIC average premium for Maine.
- 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.