Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Forest Meadows, California
A $484,000 home here costs
$3,679per 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 $157,500 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $2,639. The real number is $1,040 higher every month, 39% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Calaveras County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for Forest Meadows from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 1,485 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 Calaveras 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.
Forest Meadows against Calaveras County and California
| Measure | Forest Meadows | Calaveras County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $484,100 | $441,800 |
| Median property tax | $4,136 | $3,154 |
| Effective tax rate | 0.854% | 0.714% |
| Median gross rent | — | $1,615 |
| Population | 1,485 | 45,995 |
The weather behind that power bill
Forest Meadows sits in Calaveras County, which averages a high of 97.1°F in its hottest month and a low of 37.8°F in its coldest, with 29.75" of precipitation a year and 53% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 1,842 cooling and 2,547 heating degree days, which is what sets the $150 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Calaveras County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Calaveras County
Full Calaveras County cost breakdown · Every county in California
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Forest Meadows 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 Forest Meadows every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Forest Meadows I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Forest Meadows?
A $484,000 home in Forest Meadows, California costs approximately $3,679 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $2,639 principal and interest, $344 property tax, $75 homeowners insurance, $218 utilities and $403 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Forest Meadows?
Forest Meadows has an effective property tax rate of 0.854%, based on a median home value of $484,100 and median real estate taxes of $4,136. That is higher than the Calaveras County average of 0.714%.
What is the average home price in Forest Meadows?
The median owner-occupied home value in Forest Meadows, California is $484,100, against $441,800 across Calaveras County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Forest Meadows?
Rent data is not published for Forest Meadows at this level of detail.
What salary do you need to buy a home in Forest Meadows?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Forest Meadows, California at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $157,500 a year. That covers the full $3,679 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Forest Meadows, 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.