Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Chehalis, Washington
A $331,000 home here costs
$2,540per 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 $109,000 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,805. The real number is $735 higher every month, 41% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Lewis 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.
Chehalis against Lewis County and Washington
| Measure | Chehalis | Lewis County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $330,800 | $341,500 |
| Median property tax | $2,430 | $2,433 |
| Effective tax rate | 0.735% | 0.712% |
| Median gross rent | $1,055 | $1,044 |
| Population | 7,536 | 83,925 |
The weather behind that power bill
Chehalis sits in Lewis County, which averages a high of 78.0°F in its hottest month and a low of 32.3°F in its coldest, with 50.62" of precipitation a year and 47% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 113 cooling and 5,378 heating degree days, which is what sets the $140 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Lewis County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Lewis County
Full Lewis County cost breakdown · Every county in Washington
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Chehalis 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 Chehalis every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Chehalis I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Chehalis?
A $331,000 home in Chehalis, Washington costs approximately $2,540 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $1,805 principal and interest, $203 property tax, $49 homeowners insurance, $208 utilities and $276 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Chehalis?
Chehalis has an effective property tax rate of 0.735%, based on a median home value of $330,800 and median real estate taxes of $2,430. That is higher than the Lewis County average of 0.712%.
What is the average home price in Chehalis?
The median owner-occupied home value in Chehalis, Washington is $330,800, against $341,500 across Lewis County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Chehalis?
Median gross rent in Chehalis is $1,055 a month, against $2,540 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 Chehalis?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Chehalis, Washington at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $109,000 a year. That covers the full $2,540 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Chehalis, 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.