Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Fords Prairie, Washington
A $297,000 home here costs
$2,347per 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 $100,500 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,619. The real number is $728 higher every month, 45% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Lewis County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for Fords Prairie from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 1,762 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 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.
Fords Prairie against Lewis County and Washington
| Measure | Fords Prairie | Lewis County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $297,400 | $341,500 |
| Median property tax | $2,752 | $2,433 |
| Effective tax rate | 0.925% | 0.712% |
| Median gross rent | $1,196 | $1,044 |
| Population | 1,762 | 83,925 |
The weather behind that power bill
Fords Prairie sits in Lewis County, which averages a high of 78.0°F in its hottest month and a low of 32.3°F in its coldest, with 50.62" of precipitation a year and 47% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 113 cooling and 5,378 heating degree days, which is what sets the $140 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Lewis County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Lewis County
Full Lewis County cost breakdown · Every county in Washington
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Fords Prairie 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 Fords Prairie every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Fords Prairie I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Fords Prairie?
A $297,000 home in Fords Prairie, Washington costs approximately $2,347 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $1,619 principal and interest, $229 property tax, $44 homeowners insurance, $208 utilities and $248 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Fords Prairie?
Fords Prairie has an effective property tax rate of 0.925%, based on a median home value of $297,400 and median real estate taxes of $2,752. That is higher than the Lewis County average of 0.712%.
What is the average home price in Fords Prairie?
The median owner-occupied home value in Fords Prairie, Washington is $297,400, against $341,500 across Lewis County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Fords Prairie?
Median gross rent in Fords Prairie is $1,196 a month, against $2,347 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 Fords Prairie?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Fords Prairie, Washington at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $100,500 a year. That covers the full $2,347 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Fords Prairie, 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.