Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Columbus, Montana
A $264,000 home here costs
$2,097per 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 $90,000 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,439. The real number is $658 higher every month, 46% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Stillwater County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for Columbus from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 1,925 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 Stillwater 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.
Columbus against Stillwater County and Montana
| Measure | Columbus | Stillwater County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $264,000 | $355,600 |
| Median property tax | $1,752 | $2,131 |
| Effective tax rate | 0.664% | 0.599% |
| Median gross rent | $926 | $968 |
| Population | 1,925 | 9,052 |
The weather behind that power bill
Columbus sits in Stillwater County, which averages a high of 85.4°F in its hottest month and a low of 10.0°F in its coldest, with 15.53" of precipitation a year and 45% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 241 cooling and 7,736 heating degree days, which is what sets the $133 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Stillwater County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Stillwater County
No other places of this size are published in Stillwater County.
Full Stillwater County cost breakdown · Every county in Montana
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Columbus 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 Columbus every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Columbus I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Columbus?
A $264,000 home in Columbus, Montana costs approximately $2,097 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $1,439 principal and interest, $146 property tax, $91 homeowners insurance, $201 utilities and $220 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Columbus?
Columbus has an effective property tax rate of 0.664%, based on a median home value of $264,000 and median real estate taxes of $1,752. That is higher than the Stillwater County average of 0.599%.
What is the average home price in Columbus?
The median owner-occupied home value in Columbus, Montana is $264,000, against $355,600 across Stillwater County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Columbus?
Median gross rent in Columbus is $926 a month, against $2,097 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 Columbus?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Columbus, Montana at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $90,000 a year. That covers the full $2,097 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Columbus, 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.