Cost to Own
United States › Nebraska › Saline County › Crete Population 7,521 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 $714 a month in taxes, insurance, utilities and upkeep. See the full Saline County picture

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in Crete, Nebraska

A $204,000 home here costs

$1,826

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 $78,500 a year.

P&I 61%Tax 12%Insurance 7%Utilities 11%Upkeep 9%

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,112. The real number is $714 higher every month, 64% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

Compare Saline County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown

Crete median: $203,900
Under 20% adds PMI
Freddie Mac PMMS
NE 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, $163,200 borrowed $1,112
Property tax1.285% effective rate for Crete itself $218
Homeowners insuranceNebraska averages $1,684/yr (NAIC), or 0.755% of home value $128
Electricity13.54ยข/kWh, Nebraska residential average, EIA $129
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $170
Total monthly $1,826

Crete against Saline County and Nebraska

MeasureCreteSaline County
Median home value$203,900$180,700
Median property tax$2,621$2,445
Effective tax rate1.285%1.353%
Median gross rent$846$833
Population7,52114,642

The weather behind that power bill

Crete sits in Saline County, which averages a high of 86.7°F in its hottest month and a low of 15.4°F in its coldest, with 29.5" of precipitation a year and 43% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 1,055 cooling and 5,946 heating degree days, which is what sets the $129 electricity line above.

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

Other cities in Saline County

Full Saline County cost breakdown · Every county in Nebraska

Talk to someone who works this market

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

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

Common questions

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

A $204,000 home in Crete, Nebraska costs approximately $1,826 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $1,112 principal and interest, $218 property tax, $128 homeowners insurance, $197 utilities and $170 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in Crete?

Crete has an effective property tax rate of 1.285%, based on a median home value of $203,900 and median real estate taxes of $2,621. That is lower than the Saline County average of 1.353%.

What is the average home price in Crete?

The median owner-occupied home value in Crete, Nebraska is $203,900, against $180,700 across Saline County.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Crete?

Median gross rent in Crete is $846 a month, against $1,826 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 Crete?

Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Crete, Nebraska at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $78,500 a year. That covers the full $1,826 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.

Sources & methodology

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