Cost to Own
United StatesNorth CarolinaSurry CountyDobson Population 1,521 Data vintage ACS 2023 5-Year Rates updated 2026-07-30

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in Dobson, North Carolina

A $168,000 home here costs

$1,377

per month, all in — with 20% down at today's 6.66% 30-year fixed rate.

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $864. The real number is $513 higher every month — 59% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

Dobson median: $168,300
Under 20% adds PMI
Freddie Mac PMMS
US 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, $134,400 borrowed $864
Property tax0.774% effective rate for Dobson itself $108
Homeowners insuranceNorth Carolina averages $1,192/yr (NAIC), or 0.435% of home value $61
Electricity15.09¢/kWh — North Carolina residential average, EIA $136
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $140
Total monthly $1,377

Dobson against Surry County and North Carolina

MeasureDobsonSurry County
Median home value$168,300$166,400
Median property tax$1,302$1,033
Effective tax rate0.774%0.621%
Median gross rent$544$741
Population1,52171,407

The weather behind that power bill

Dobson sits in Surry County, which averages a high of 86.3°F in its hottest month and a low of 24.8°F in its coldest, with 50.46" of precipitation a year and 29% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 973 cooling and 4,412 heating degree days, which is what sets the $136 electricity line above.

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

Other cities in Surry County

Full Surry County cost breakdown · Every county in North Carolina

Common questions

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

A $168,000 home in Dobson, North Carolina costs approximately $1,377 per month with 20% down at 6.66%. That is $864 principal and interest, $108 property tax, $61 homeowners insurance, $204 utilities and $140 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in Dobson?

Dobson has an effective property tax rate of 0.774%, based on a median home value of $168,300 and median real estate taxes of $1,302. That is higher than the Surry County average of 0.621%.

What is the average home price in Dobson?

The median owner-occupied home value in Dobson, North Carolina is $168,300, against $166,400 across Surry County.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Dobson?

Median gross rent in Dobson is $544 a month, against $1,377 to own the median home all in. Renting costs less month to month here, though renting builds no equity.

Sources & methodology

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