Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Fort Pierce, Florida
A $221,000 home here costs
$1,901per month, all in, with 20% down at today's 7.32% 30-year fixed rate. By the 28% rule that takes a household income of about $81,500 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,214. The real number is $686 higher every month, 56% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare St. Lucie 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.
Fort Pierce against St. Lucie County and Florida
| Measure | Fort Pierce | St. Lucie County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $220,500 | $305,800 |
| Median property tax | $1,609 | $2,893 |
| Effective tax rate | 0.730% | 0.946% |
| Median gross rent | $1,194 | $1,489 |
| Population | 48,094 | 346,237 |
The weather behind that power bill
Fort Pierce sits in St. Lucie County, which averages a high of 90.3°F in its hottest month and a low of 51.2°F in its coldest, with 51.17" of precipitation a year and 38% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 3,391 cooling and 418 heating degree days, which is what sets the $166 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for St. Lucie County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in St. Lucie County
Full St. Lucie County cost breakdown · Every county in Florida
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Fort Pierce 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 Fort Pierce every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Fort Pierce I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Fort Pierce?
A $221,000 home in Fort Pierce, Florida costs approximately $1,901 per month with 20% down at 7.32%. That is $1,214 principal and interest, $134 property tax, $134 homeowners insurance, $234 utilities and $184 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Fort Pierce?
Fort Pierce has an effective property tax rate of 0.730%, based on a median home value of $220,500 and median real estate taxes of $1,609. That is lower than the St. Lucie County average of 0.946%.
What is the average home price in Fort Pierce?
The median owner-occupied home value in Fort Pierce, Florida is $220,500, against $305,800 across St. Lucie County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Fort Pierce?
Median gross rent in Fort Pierce is $1,194 a month, against $1,901 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 Fort Pierce?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Fort Pierce, Florida at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $81,500 a year. That covers the full $1,901 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Fort Pierce, US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
- Homeowners insurance, NAIC average premium for Florida.
- 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.