Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in East Helena, Montana
A $254,000 home here costs
$2,070per 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 $88,500 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,385. The real number is $685 higher every month, 49% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Lewis and Clark County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for East Helena from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 1,855 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 Lewis and Clark 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.
East Helena against Lewis and Clark County and Montana
| Measure | East Helena | Lewis and Clark County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $254,400 | $358,200 |
| Median property tax | $2,230 | $2,886 |
| Effective tax rate | 0.877% | 0.806% |
| Median gross rent | $1,020 | $1,062 |
| Population | 1,855 | 72,580 |
The weather behind that power bill
East Helena sits in Lewis and Clark County, which averages a high of 81.5°F in its hottest month and a low of 16.2°F in its coldest, with 17.09" of precipitation a year and 46% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 218 cooling and 7,893 heating degree days, which is what sets the $133 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Lewis and Clark County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Lewis and Clark County
Full Lewis and Clark County cost breakdown · Every county in Montana
Talk to someone who works this market
These are East Helena 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 East Helena every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in East Helena I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in East Helena?
A $254,000 home in East Helena, Montana costs approximately $2,070 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $1,385 principal and interest, $186 property tax, $87 homeowners insurance, $201 utilities and $212 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in East Helena?
East Helena has an effective property tax rate of 0.877%, based on a median home value of $254,400 and median real estate taxes of $2,230. That is higher than the Lewis and Clark County average of 0.806%.
What is the average home price in East Helena?
The median owner-occupied home value in East Helena, Montana is $254,400, against $358,200 across Lewis and Clark County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in East Helena?
Median gross rent in East Helena is $1,020 a month, against $2,070 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 East Helena?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in East Helena, Montana at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $88,500 a year. That covers the full $2,070 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for East Helena, US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
- Homeowners insurance, NAIC average premium for Montana.
- 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.