Cost to Own
United States › Pennsylvania › Lackawanna County › Clarks Summit Population 5,058 Data vintage ACS 2023 5-Year Rates updated 2026-10-22
The part nobody budgets Even with the mortgage fully paid off, the median home here still costs $857 a month in taxes, insurance, utilities and upkeep. See the full Lackawanna County picture

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania

A $237,000 home here costs

$2,159

per month, all in, with 20% down at today's 7.32% 30-year fixed rate. By the 28% rule that takes a household income of about $92,500 a year.

P&I 60%Tax 15%Insurance 4%Utilities 11%Upkeep 9%

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,302. The real number is $857 higher every month, 66% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

Compare Lackawanna County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown

Clarks Summit median: $236,900
Under 20% adds PMI
Freddie Mac PMMS
PA 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, $189,600 borrowed $1,302
Property tax1.694% effective rate for Clarks Summit itself $335
Homeowners insurancePennsylvania averages $1,014/yr (NAIC), or 0.401% of home value $79
Electricity21.72ยข/kWh, Pennsylvania residential average, EIA $177
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $198
Total monthly $2,159

Clarks Summit against Lackawanna County and Pennsylvania

MeasureClarks SummitLackawanna County
Median home value$236,900$189,900
Median property tax$4,013$2,910
Effective tax rate1.694%1.532%
Median gross rent$1,147$973
Population5,058215,834

The weather behind that power bill

Clarks Summit sits in Lackawanna County, which averages a high of 84.6°F in its hottest month and a low of 20.3°F in its coldest, with 38.72" of precipitation a year and 30% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 791 cooling and 5,740 heating degree days, which is what sets the $177 electricity line above.

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

Other cities in Lackawanna County

Full Lackawanna County cost breakdown · Every county in Pennsylvania

Talk to someone who works this market

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

I'm looking to buy in Clarks Summit I already own here and may sell

Common questions

How much does it cost to own a home in Clarks Summit?

A $237,000 home in Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania costs approximately $2,159 per month with 20% down at 7.32%. That is $1,302 principal and interest, $335 property tax, $79 homeowners insurance, $245 utilities and $198 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in Clarks Summit?

Clarks Summit has an effective property tax rate of 1.694%, based on a median home value of $236,900 and median real estate taxes of $4,013. That is higher than the Lackawanna County average of 1.532%.

What is the average home price in Clarks Summit?

The median owner-occupied home value in Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania is $236,900, against $189,900 across Lackawanna County.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Clarks Summit?

Median gross rent in Clarks Summit is $1,147 a month, against $2,159 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 Clarks Summit?

Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $92,500 a year. That covers the full $2,159 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.

Sources & methodology

  • Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Clarks Summit, US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
  • Homeowners insurance, NAIC average premium for Pennsylvania.
  • 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