Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Dunkirk, Indiana
A $65,000 home here costs
$689per 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 $29,500 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $354. The real number is $335 higher every month, 94% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Jay County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for Dunkirk from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 1,760 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 Jay 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.
Dunkirk against Jay County and Indiana
| Measure | Dunkirk | Jay County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $65,000 | $110,100 |
| Median property tax | $376 | $665 |
| Effective tax rate | 0.578% | 0.604% |
| Median gross rent | $807 | $766 |
| Population | 1,760 | 20,281 |
Dunkirk extends across 2 counties. Figures here use Jay County, where most of its housing sits.
The weather behind that power bill
Dunkirk sits in Jay County, which averages a high of 83.7°F in its hottest month and a low of 17.0°F in its coldest, with 39.93" of precipitation a year and 32% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 771 cooling and 6,091 heating degree days, which is what sets the $153 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Jay County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Jay County
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Dunkirk 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 Dunkirk every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Dunkirk I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Dunkirk?
A $65,000 home in Dunkirk, Indiana costs approximately $689 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $354 principal and interest, $31 property tax, $28 homeowners insurance, $221 utilities and $54 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Dunkirk?
Dunkirk has an effective property tax rate of 0.578%, based on a median home value of $65,000 and median real estate taxes of $376. That is lower than the Jay County average of 0.604%.
What is the average home price in Dunkirk?
The median owner-occupied home value in Dunkirk, Indiana is $65,000, against $110,100 across Jay County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Dunkirk?
Median gross rent in Dunkirk is $807 a month, against $689 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 Dunkirk?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Dunkirk, Indiana at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $29,500 a year. That covers the full $689 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Dunkirk, US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
- Homeowners insurance, NAIC average premium for Indiana.
- 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.