Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Detroit, Michigan
A $77,000 home here costs
$845per month, all in, with 20% down at today's 7.40% 30-year fixed rate. By the 28% rule that takes a household income of about $36,000 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $427. The real number is $419 higher every month, 98% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Wayne County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Where every dollar goes
Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.
Detroit against Wayne County and Michigan
| Measure | Detroit | Wayne County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $76,800 | $170,200 |
| Median property tax | $1,382 | $2,794 |
| Effective tax rate | 1.799% | 1.642% |
| Median gross rent | $1,034 | $1,087 |
| Population | 636,644 | 1,773,767 |
The weather behind that power bill
Detroit sits in Wayne County, which averages a high of 83.7°F in its hottest month and a low of 19.2°F in its coldest, with 34.32" of precipitation a year and 31% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 847 cooling and 6,067 heating degree days, which is what sets the $142 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Wayne County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Wayne County
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Detroit 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 Detroit every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Detroit I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Detroit?
A $77,000 home in Detroit, Michigan costs approximately $845 per month with 20% down at 7.4%. That is $427 principal and interest, $115 property tax, $29 homeowners insurance, $210 utilities and $64 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Detroit?
Detroit has an effective property tax rate of 1.799%, based on a median home value of $76,800 and median real estate taxes of $1,382. That is higher than the Wayne County average of 1.642%.
What is the average home price in Detroit?
The median owner-occupied home value in Detroit, Michigan is $76,800, against $170,200 across Wayne County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Detroit?
Median gross rent in Detroit is $1,034 a month, against $845 to own the median home all in. Owning costs less month to month here, though renting builds no equity.
What salary do you need to buy a home in Detroit?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Detroit, Michigan at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $36,000 a year. That covers the full $845 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Detroit, US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
- Homeowners insurance, NAIC average premium for Michigan.
- 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.