Cost to Own
United StatesCaliforniaMonterey CountyElkhorn Population 1,201 Data vintage ACS 2023 5-Year Rates updated 2026-07-30

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in Elkhorn, California

A $775,000 home here costs

$5,459

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

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $3,984. The real number is $1,475 higher every month — 37% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

Elkhorn median: $774,600
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, $620,000 borrowed $3,984
Property tax0.529% effective rate for Elkhorn itself $342
Homeowners insuranceCalifornia averages $1,403/yr (NAIC), or 0.186% of home value $120
Electricity33.25¢/kWh — California residential average, EIA $299
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $646
Total monthly $5,459

Elkhorn against Monterey County and California

MeasureElkhornMonterey County
Median home value$774,600$723,100
Median property tax$4,100$4,782
Effective tax rate0.529%0.661%
Median gross rent$2,479$1,995
Population1,201435,834

The weather behind that power bill

Elkhorn sits in Monterey County, which averages a high of 85.2°F in its hottest month and a low of 37.1°F in its coldest, with 11.83" of precipitation a year and 59% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 578 cooling and 2,288 heating degree days, which is what sets the $299 electricity line above.

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

Other cities in Monterey County

Full Monterey County cost breakdown · Every county in California

Common questions

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

A $775,000 home in Elkhorn, California costs approximately $5,459 per month with 20% down at 6.66%. That is $3,984 principal and interest, $342 property tax, $120 homeowners insurance, $367 utilities and $646 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in Elkhorn?

Elkhorn has an effective property tax rate of 0.529%, based on a median home value of $774,600 and median real estate taxes of $4,100. That is lower than the Monterey County average of 0.661%.

What is the average home price in Elkhorn?

The median owner-occupied home value in Elkhorn, California is $774,600, against $723,100 across Monterey County.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Elkhorn?

Median gross rent in Elkhorn is $2,479 a month, against $5,459 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 Elkhorn — US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
  • Homeowners insurance — NAIC average premium for California.
  • 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