Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Castle Rock, Washington
A $301,000 home here costs
$2,341per 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 $100,500 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,641. The real number is $700 higher every month, 43% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Cowlitz County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for Castle Rock from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 2,298 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 Cowlitz 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.
Castle Rock against Cowlitz County and Washington
| Measure | Castle Rock | Cowlitz County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $301,000 | $367,400 |
| Median property tax | $2,356 | $2,988 |
| Effective tax rate | 0.783% | 0.813% |
| Median gross rent | $1,326 | $1,169 |
| Population | 2,298 | 111,539 |
The weather behind that power bill
Castle Rock sits in Cowlitz County, which averages a high of 82.3°F in its hottest month and a low of 37.2°F in its coldest, with 40.66" of precipitation a year and 42% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 427 cooling and 4,155 heating degree days, which is what sets the $140 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Cowlitz County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Cowlitz County
Full Cowlitz County cost breakdown · Every county in Washington
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Castle Rock 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 Castle Rock every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Castle Rock I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Castle Rock?
A $301,000 home in Castle Rock, Washington costs approximately $2,341 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $1,641 principal and interest, $196 property tax, $45 homeowners insurance, $208 utilities and $251 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Castle Rock?
Castle Rock has an effective property tax rate of 0.783%, based on a median home value of $301,000 and median real estate taxes of $2,356. That is lower than the Cowlitz County average of 0.813%.
What is the average home price in Castle Rock?
The median owner-occupied home value in Castle Rock, Washington is $301,000, against $367,400 across Cowlitz County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Castle Rock?
Median gross rent in Castle Rock is $1,326 a month, against $2,341 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 Castle Rock?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Castle Rock, Washington at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $100,500 a year. That covers the full $2,341 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Castle Rock, US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
- Homeowners insurance, NAIC average premium for Washington.
- 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.