Cost to Own
United StatesCaliforniaHumboldt CountyEureka Population 26,302 Data vintage ACS 2023 5-Year Rates updated 2026-07-30

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in Eureka, California

A $376,000 home here costs

$2,875

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

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,933. The real number is $942 higher every month — 49% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

Eureka median: $375,800
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, $300,800 borrowed $1,933
Property tax0.648% effective rate for Eureka itself $203
Homeowners insuranceCalifornia averages $1,403/yr (NAIC), or 0.186% of home value $58
Electricity33.25¢/kWh — California residential average, EIA $299
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $313
Total monthly $2,875

Eureka against Humboldt County and California

MeasureEurekaHumboldt County
Median home value$375,800$418,800
Median property tax$2,437$2,731
Effective tax rate0.648%0.652%
Median gross rent$1,157$1,249
Population26,302135,418

The weather behind that power bill

Eureka sits in Humboldt County, which averages a high of 64.0°F in its hottest month and a low of 40.0°F in its coldest, with 40.4" of precipitation a year and 51% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 2 cooling and 4,506 heating degree days, which is what sets the $299 electricity line above.

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

Other cities in Humboldt County

Full Humboldt County cost breakdown · Every county in California

Common questions

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

A $376,000 home in Eureka, California costs approximately $2,875 per month with 20% down at 6.66%. That is $1,933 principal and interest, $203 property tax, $58 homeowners insurance, $367 utilities and $313 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in Eureka?

Eureka has an effective property tax rate of 0.648%, based on a median home value of $375,800 and median real estate taxes of $2,437. That is in line with the Humboldt County average of 0.652%.

What is the average home price in Eureka?

The median owner-occupied home value in Eureka, California is $375,800, against $418,800 across Humboldt County.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Eureka?

Median gross rent in Eureka is $1,157 a month, against $2,875 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 Eureka — 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