Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Dobson, North Carolina
A $168,000 home here costs
$1,445per 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 $62,000 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $916. The real number is $529 higher every month, 58% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Surry County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for Dobson from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 1,521 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 Surry 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.
Dobson against Surry County and North Carolina
| Measure | Dobson | Surry County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $168,300 | $166,400 |
| Median property tax | $1,302 | $1,033 |
| Effective tax rate | 0.774% | 0.621% |
| Median gross rent | $544 | $741 |
| Population | 1,521 | 71,407 |
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 $152 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
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Dobson 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 Dobson every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Dobson I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Dobson?
A $168,000 home in Dobson, North Carolina costs approximately $1,445 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $916 principal and interest, $108 property tax, $61 homeowners insurance, $220 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 $1,445 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 Dobson?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Dobson, North Carolina at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $62,000 a year. That covers the full $1,445 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
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.