Cost to Own
United States › North Carolina › Moore County › Carthage Population 2,840 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 $563 a month in taxes, insurance, utilities and upkeep. See the full Moore County picture

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in Carthage, North Carolina

A $194,000 home here costs

$1,620

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 $69,500 a year.

P&I 65%Tax 7%Insurance 4%Utilities 14%Upkeep 10%

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,058. The real number is $563 higher every month, 53% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

Compare Moore County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown

Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for Carthage from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 2,840 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 Moore County figures are drawn from a far larger sample if you want a steadier number.

Carthage median: $194,100
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, $155,200 borrowed $1,058
Property tax0.686% effective rate for Carthage itself $111
Homeowners insuranceNorth Carolina averages $1,192/yr (NAIC), or 0.435% of home value $70
Electricity14.95ยข/kWh, North Carolina residential average, EIA $152
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $162
Total monthly $1,620

Carthage against Moore County and North Carolina

MeasureCarthageMoore County
Median home value$194,100$315,300
Median property tax$1,332$1,784
Effective tax rate0.686%0.566%
Median gross rent$856$1,181
Population2,840102,840

The weather behind that power bill

Carthage sits in Moore County, which averages a high of 90.3°F in its hottest month and a low of 30.6°F in its coldest, with 47.81" of precipitation a year and 32% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 1,641 cooling and 3,172 heating degree days, which is what sets the $152 electricity line above.

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

Other cities in Moore County

Full Moore County cost breakdown · Every county in North Carolina

Talk to someone who works this market

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

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

Common questions

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

A $194,000 home in Carthage, North Carolina costs approximately $1,620 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $1,058 principal and interest, $111 property tax, $70 homeowners insurance, $220 utilities and $162 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in Carthage?

Carthage has an effective property tax rate of 0.686%, based on a median home value of $194,100 and median real estate taxes of $1,332. That is higher than the Moore County average of 0.566%.

What is the average home price in Carthage?

The median owner-occupied home value in Carthage, North Carolina is $194,100, against $315,300 across Moore County.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Carthage?

Median gross rent in Carthage is $856 a month, against $1,620 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 Carthage?

Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Carthage, North Carolina at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $69,500 a year. That covers the full $1,620 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.

Sources & methodology

  • Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Carthage, 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