Cost to Own
United States › Minnesota › Polk County › Crookston Population 7,388 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 $550 a month in taxes, insurance, utilities and upkeep. See the full Polk County picture

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in Crookston, Minnesota

A $161,000 home here costs

$1,427

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 $61,000 a year.

P&I 61%Tax 11%Insurance 5%Utilities 13%Upkeep 9%

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $878. The real number is $550 higher every month, 63% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

Compare Polk County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown

Crookston median: $160,700
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, $128,800 borrowed $878
Property tax1.156% effective rate for Crookston itself $155
Homeowners insuranceMinnesota averages $1,607/yr (NAIC), or 0.521% of home value $70
Electricity17.2ยข/kWh, Minnesota residential average, EIA $122
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $134
Total monthly $1,427

Crookston against Polk County and Minnesota

MeasureCrookstonPolk County
Median home value$160,700$211,100
Median property tax$1,858$2,109
Effective tax rate1.156%0.999%
Median gross rent$827$843
Population7,38830,905

The weather behind that power bill

Crookston sits in Polk County, which averages a high of 78.9°F in its hottest month and a low of -2.9°F in its coldest, with 24.33" of precipitation a year and 48% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 386 cooling and 9,524 heating degree days, which is what sets the $122 electricity line above.

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

Other cities in Polk County

Full Polk County cost breakdown · Every county in Minnesota

Talk to someone who works this market

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

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

Common questions

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

A $161,000 home in Crookston, Minnesota costs approximately $1,427 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $878 principal and interest, $155 property tax, $70 homeowners insurance, $190 utilities and $134 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in Crookston?

Crookston has an effective property tax rate of 1.156%, based on a median home value of $160,700 and median real estate taxes of $1,858. That is higher than the Polk County average of 0.999%.

What is the average home price in Crookston?

The median owner-occupied home value in Crookston, Minnesota is $160,700, against $211,100 across Polk County.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Crookston?

Median gross rent in Crookston is $827 a month, against $1,427 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 Crookston?

Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Crookston, Minnesota at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $61,000 a year. That covers the full $1,427 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.

Sources & methodology

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