Cost to Own
United States › North Carolina › Craven County › Cherry Branch Population 1,406 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 $691 a month in taxes, insurance, utilities and upkeep. See the full Craven County picture

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in Cherry Branch, North Carolina

A $279,000 home here costs

$2,212

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 $95,000 a year.

P&I 69%Tax 6%Insurance 5%Utilities 10%Upkeep 11%

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,521. The real number is $691 higher every month, 45% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

Compare Craven County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown

Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for Cherry Branch from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 1,406 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 Craven County figures are drawn from a far larger sample if you want a steadier number.

Cherry Branch median: $278,800
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, $223,200 borrowed $1,521
Property tax0.593% effective rate for Cherry Branch itself $138
Homeowners insuranceNorth Carolina averages $1,192/yr (NAIC), or 0.435% of home value $101
Electricity14.95ยข/kWh, North Carolina residential average, EIA $152
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $233
Total monthly $2,212

Cherry Branch against Craven County and North Carolina

MeasureCherry BranchCraven County
Median home value$278,800$206,200
Median property tax$1,653$1,372
Effective tax rate0.593%0.665%
Median gross rent$1,645$1,100
Population1,406101,074

The weather behind that power bill

Cherry Branch sits in Craven County, which averages a high of 89.6°F in its hottest month and a low of 33.8°F in its coldest, with 53.01" of precipitation a year and 37% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 1,897 cooling and 2,698 heating degree days, which is what sets the $152 electricity line above.

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

Other cities in Craven County

Full Craven County cost breakdown · Every county in North Carolina

Talk to someone who works this market

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

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

Common questions

How much does it cost to own a home in Cherry Branch?

A $279,000 home in Cherry Branch, North Carolina costs approximately $2,212 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $1,521 principal and interest, $138 property tax, $101 homeowners insurance, $220 utilities and $233 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in Cherry Branch?

Cherry Branch has an effective property tax rate of 0.593%, based on a median home value of $278,800 and median real estate taxes of $1,653. That is lower than the Craven County average of 0.665%.

What is the average home price in Cherry Branch?

The median owner-occupied home value in Cherry Branch, North Carolina is $278,800, against $206,200 across Craven County.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Cherry Branch?

Median gross rent in Cherry Branch is $1,645 a month, against $2,212 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 Cherry Branch?

Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Cherry Branch, North Carolina at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $95,000 a year. That covers the full $2,212 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.

Sources & methodology

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