Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in California, Pennsylvania
A $143,000 home here costs
$1,332per 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 $57,000 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $780. The real number is $553 higher every month, 71% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Washington County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Where every dollar goes
Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.
California against Washington County and Pennsylvania
| Measure | California | Washington County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $142,600 | $220,600 |
| Median property tax | $1,675 | $2,445 |
| Effective tax rate | 1.175% | 1.108% |
| Median gross rent | $792 | $922 |
| Population | 5,046 | 209,778 |
The weather behind that power bill
California sits in Washington County, which averages a high of 83.4°F in its hottest month and a low of 20.0°F in its coldest, with 41.34" of precipitation a year and 30% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 762 cooling and 5,674 heating degree days, which is what sets the $178 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 Pennsylvania
Talk to someone who works this market
These are California 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 California every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in California I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in California?
A $143,000 home in California, Pennsylvania costs approximately $1,332 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $780 principal and interest, $140 property tax, $48 homeowners insurance, $246 utilities and $119 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in California?
California has an effective property tax rate of 1.175%, based on a median home value of $142,600 and median real estate taxes of $1,675. That is higher than the Washington County average of 1.108%.
What is the average home price in California?
The median owner-occupied home value in California, Pennsylvania is $142,600, against $220,600 across Washington County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in California?
Median gross rent in California is $792 a month, against $1,332 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 California?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in California, Pennsylvania at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $57,000 a year. That covers the full $1,332 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for California, US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
- Homeowners insurance, NAIC average premium for Pennsylvania.
- 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.