Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Chinook, Montana
A $206,000 home here costs
$1,743per 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 $74,500 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,123. The real number is $620 higher every month, 55% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Blaine County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for Chinook from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 1,460 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 Blaine 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.
Chinook against Blaine County and Montana
| Measure | Chinook | Blaine County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $205,900 | $124,900 |
| Median property tax | $2,124 | $1,901 |
| Effective tax rate | 1.032% | 1.522% |
| Median gross rent | $811 | $689 |
| Population | 1,460 | 6,997 |
The weather behind that power bill
Chinook sits in Blaine County, which averages a high of 84.3°F in its hottest month and a low of 5.9°F in its coldest, with 13.49" of precipitation a year and 51% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 347 cooling and 8,474 heating degree days, which is what sets the $133 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Blaine County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Blaine County
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Chinook 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 Chinook every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Chinook I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Chinook?
A $206,000 home in Chinook, Montana costs approximately $1,743 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $1,123 principal and interest, $177 property tax, $71 homeowners insurance, $201 utilities and $172 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Chinook?
Chinook has an effective property tax rate of 1.032%, based on a median home value of $205,900 and median real estate taxes of $2,124. That is lower than the Blaine County average of 1.522%.
What is the average home price in Chinook?
The median owner-occupied home value in Chinook, Montana is $205,900, against $124,900 across Blaine County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Chinook?
Median gross rent in Chinook is $811 a month, against $1,743 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 Chinook?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Chinook, Montana at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $74,500 a year. That covers the full $1,743 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Chinook, US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
- Homeowners insurance, NAIC average premium for Montana.
- 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.