Cost to Own
United States › Minnesota › Anoka County › Columbia Heights Population 22,016 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 $748 a month in taxes, insurance, utilities and upkeep. See the full Anoka County picture

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in Columbia Heights, Minnesota

A $260,000 home here costs

$2,165

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 $93,000 a year.

P&I 65%Tax 11%Insurance 5%Utilities 9%Upkeep 10%

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,418. The real number is $748 higher every month, 53% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

Compare Anoka County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown

Columbia Heights median: $259,900
Under 20% adds PMI
Freddie Mac PMMS
MN 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, $208,000 borrowed $1,418
Property tax1.051% effective rate for Columbia Heights itself $228
Homeowners insuranceMinnesota averages $1,607/yr (NAIC), or 0.521% of home value $113
Electricity17.2ยข/kWh, Minnesota residential average, EIA $122
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $217
Total monthly $2,165

Columbia Heights against Anoka County and Minnesota

MeasureColumbia HeightsAnoka County
Median home value$259,900$325,800
Median property tax$2,731$3,099
Effective tax rate1.051%0.951%
Median gross rent$1,278$1,396
Population22,016367,095

The weather behind that power bill

Columbia Heights sits in Anoka County, which averages a high of 82.2°F in its hottest month and a low of 2.4°F in its coldest, with 28.82" of precipitation a year and 41% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 508 cooling and 8,283 heating degree days, which is what sets the $122 electricity line above.

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

Other cities in Anoka County

Full Anoka County cost breakdown · Every county in Minnesota

Talk to someone who works this market

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

I'm looking to buy in Columbia Heights I already own here and may sell

Common questions

How much does it cost to own a home in Columbia Heights?

A $260,000 home in Columbia Heights, Minnesota costs approximately $2,165 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $1,418 principal and interest, $228 property tax, $113 homeowners insurance, $190 utilities and $217 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in Columbia Heights?

Columbia Heights has an effective property tax rate of 1.051%, based on a median home value of $259,900 and median real estate taxes of $2,731. That is higher than the Anoka County average of 0.951%.

What is the average home price in Columbia Heights?

The median owner-occupied home value in Columbia Heights, Minnesota is $259,900, against $325,800 across Anoka County.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Columbia Heights?

Median gross rent in Columbia Heights is $1,278 a month, against $2,165 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 Columbia Heights?

Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Columbia Heights, Minnesota at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $93,000 a year. That covers the full $2,165 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.

Sources & methodology

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