Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Charles Town, West Virginia
A $360,000 home here costs
$2,884per 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 $123,500 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,963. The real number is $921 higher every month, 47% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Jefferson 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.
Charles Town against Jefferson County and West Virginia
| Measure | Charles Town | Jefferson County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $359,500 | $324,500 |
| Median property tax | $2,346 | $1,796 |
| Effective tax rate | 0.653% | 0.553% |
| Median gross rent | $1,086 | $1,103 |
| Population | 6,854 | 58,546 |
The weather behind that power bill
Charles Town sits in Jefferson County, which averages a high of 86.9°F in its hottest month and a low of 23.5°F in its coldest, with 38.97" of precipitation a year and 30% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 1,013 cooling and 4,947 heating degree days, which is what sets the $168 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Jefferson County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Jefferson County
Full Jefferson County cost breakdown · Every county in West Virginia
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Charles Town 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 Charles Town every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Charles Town I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Charles Town?
A $360,000 home in Charles Town, West Virginia costs approximately $2,884 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $1,963 principal and interest, $196 property tax, $190 homeowners insurance, $236 utilities and $300 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Charles Town?
Charles Town has an effective property tax rate of 0.653%, based on a median home value of $359,500 and median real estate taxes of $2,346. That is higher than the Jefferson County average of 0.553%.
What is the average home price in Charles Town?
The median owner-occupied home value in Charles Town, West Virginia is $359,500, against $324,500 across Jefferson County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Charles Town?
Median gross rent in Charles Town is $1,086 a month, against $2,884 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 Charles Town?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Charles Town, West Virginia at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $123,500 a year. That covers the full $2,884 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Charles Town, US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
- Homeowners insurance, NAIC average premium for West Virginia.
- 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.