Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Forestdale, Massachusetts
A $463,000 home here costs
$3,733per 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 $160,000 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $2,524. The real number is $1,208 higher every month, 48% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Barnstable County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for Forestdale from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 3,716 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 Barnstable 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.
Forestdale against Barnstable County and Massachusetts
| Measure | Forestdale | Barnstable County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $462,500 | $575,900 |
| Median property tax | $5,529 | $4,090 |
| Effective tax rate | 1.195% | 0.710% |
| Median gross rent | $1,790 | $1,596 |
| Population | 3,716 | 230,073 |
The weather behind that power bill
Forestdale sits in Barnstable County, which averages a high of 80.8°F in its hottest month and a low of 24.1°F in its coldest, with 44.7" of precipitation a year and 29% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 632 cooling and 5,518 heating degree days, which is what sets the $174 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Barnstable County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Barnstable County
Full Barnstable County cost breakdown · Every county in Massachusetts
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Forestdale 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 Forestdale every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Forestdale I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Forestdale?
A $463,000 home in Forestdale, Massachusetts costs approximately $3,733 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $2,524 principal and interest, $461 property tax, $120 homeowners insurance, $242 utilities and $386 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Forestdale?
Forestdale has an effective property tax rate of 1.195%, based on a median home value of $462,500 and median real estate taxes of $5,529. That is higher than the Barnstable County average of 0.710%.
What is the average home price in Forestdale?
The median owner-occupied home value in Forestdale, Massachusetts is $462,500, against $575,900 across Barnstable County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Forestdale?
Median gross rent in Forestdale is $1,790 a month, against $3,733 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 Forestdale?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Forestdale, Massachusetts at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $160,000 a year. That covers the full $3,733 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Forestdale, US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
- Homeowners insurance, NAIC average premium for Massachusetts.
- 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.