Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Carleton, Michigan
A $178,000 home here costs
$1,597per 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 $68,500 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $970. The real number is $626 higher every month, 65% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Monroe County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for Carleton from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 2,635 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 Monroe 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.
Carleton against Monroe County and Michigan
| Measure | Carleton | Monroe County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $177,800 | $215,700 |
| Median property tax | $2,416 | $2,492 |
| Effective tax rate | 1.359% | 1.155% |
| Median gross rent | $871 | $1,017 |
| Population | 2,635 | 155,001 |
The weather behind that power bill
Carleton sits in Monroe County, which averages a high of 83.7°F in its hottest month and a low of 19.2°F in its coldest, with 34.32" of precipitation a year and 31% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 847 cooling and 6,067 heating degree days, which is what sets the $142 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Monroe County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Monroe County
Full Monroe County cost breakdown · Every county in Michigan
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Carleton 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 Carleton every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Carleton I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Carleton?
A $178,000 home in Carleton, Michigan costs approximately $1,597 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $970 principal and interest, $202 property tax, $66 homeowners insurance, $210 utilities and $148 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Carleton?
Carleton has an effective property tax rate of 1.359%, based on a median home value of $177,800 and median real estate taxes of $2,416. That is higher than the Monroe County average of 1.155%.
What is the average home price in Carleton?
The median owner-occupied home value in Carleton, Michigan is $177,800, against $215,700 across Monroe County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Carleton?
Median gross rent in Carleton is $871 a month, against $1,597 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 Carleton?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Carleton, Michigan at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $68,500 a year. That covers the full $1,597 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Carleton, 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.