Cost to Own
United StatesNorth CarolinaWake CountyClayton Population 28,043 Data vintage ACS 2023 5-Year Rates updated 2026-07-30

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in Clayton, North Carolina

A $292,000 home here costs

$2,267

per month, all in — with 20% down at today's 6.66% 30-year fixed rate.

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,501. The real number is $766 higher every month — 51% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

Clayton median: $292,400
Under 20% adds PMI
Freddie Mac PMMS
US 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, $233,600 borrowed $1,501
Property tax0.877% effective rate for Clayton itself $213
Homeowners insuranceNorth Carolina averages $1,192/yr (NAIC), or 0.435% of home value $106
Electricity15.09¢/kWh — North Carolina residential average, EIA $136
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $243
Total monthly $2,267

Clayton against Wake County and North Carolina

MeasureClaytonWake County
Median home value$292,400$422,800
Median property tax$2,565$3,023
Effective tax rate0.877%0.715%
Median gross rent$1,542$1,508
Population28,0431,151,009

Clayton extends across 2 counties. Figures here use Wake County, where most of its housing sits.

The weather behind that power bill

Clayton sits in Wake County, which averages a high of 90.6°F in its hottest month and a low of 31.6°F in its coldest, with 49.36" of precipitation a year and 31% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 1,779 cooling and 3,165 heating degree days, which is what sets the $136 electricity line above.

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

Other cities in Wake County

Full Wake County cost breakdown · Every county in North Carolina

Common questions

How much does it cost to own a home in Clayton?

A $292,000 home in Clayton, North Carolina costs approximately $2,267 per month with 20% down at 6.66%. That is $1,501 principal and interest, $213 property tax, $106 homeowners insurance, $204 utilities and $243 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in Clayton?

Clayton has an effective property tax rate of 0.877%, based on a median home value of $292,400 and median real estate taxes of $2,565. That is higher than the Wake County average of 0.715%.

What is the average home price in Clayton?

The median owner-occupied home value in Clayton, North Carolina is $292,400, against $422,800 across Wake County.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Clayton?

Median gross rent in Clayton is $1,542 a month, against $2,267 to own the median home all in. Renting costs less month to month here, though renting builds no equity.

Sources & methodology

  • Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Clayton — 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