Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Ellensburg, Washington
A $358,000 home here costs
$2,771per 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 $119,000 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,952. The real number is $819 higher every month, 42% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Kittitas County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Where every dollar goes
Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.
Ellensburg against Kittitas County and Washington
| Measure | Ellensburg | Kittitas County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $357,800 | $459,900 |
| Median property tax | $3,119 | $3,255 |
| Effective tax rate | 0.872% | 0.708% |
| Median gross rent | $1,258 | $1,253 |
| Population | 18,913 | 44,736 |
The weather behind that power bill
Ellensburg sits in Kittitas County, which averages a high of 86.5°F in its hottest month and a low of 23.8°F in its coldest, with 9.16" of precipitation a year and 42% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 568 cooling and 5,970 heating degree days, which is what sets the $140 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Kittitas County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Kittitas County
Full Kittitas County cost breakdown · Every county in Washington
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Ellensburg 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 Ellensburg every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Ellensburg I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Ellensburg?
A $358,000 home in Ellensburg, Washington costs approximately $2,771 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $1,952 principal and interest, $260 property tax, $53 homeowners insurance, $208 utilities and $298 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Ellensburg?
Ellensburg has an effective property tax rate of 0.872%, based on a median home value of $357,800 and median real estate taxes of $3,119. That is higher than the Kittitas County average of 0.708%.
What is the average home price in Ellensburg?
The median owner-occupied home value in Ellensburg, Washington is $357,800, against $459,900 across Kittitas County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Ellensburg?
Median gross rent in Ellensburg is $1,258 a month, against $2,771 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 Ellensburg?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Ellensburg, Washington at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $119,000 a year. That covers the full $2,771 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Ellensburg, US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
- Homeowners insurance, NAIC average premium for Washington.
- 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.