Cost to Own
United StatesWisconsinWashington CountyGermantown Population 20,940 Data vintage ACS 2023 5-Year Rates updated 2026-07-30

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in Germantown, Wisconsin

A $357,000 home here costs

$2,873

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

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,835. The real number is $1,038 higher every month — 57% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

Germantown median: $356,700
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, $285,600 borrowed $1,835
Property tax1.354% effective rate for Germantown itself $403
Homeowners insuranceWisconsin averages $780/yr (NAIC), or 0.309% of home value $92
Electricity19.74¢/kWh — Wisconsin residential average, EIA $177
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $298
Total monthly $2,873

Germantown against Washington County and Wisconsin

MeasureGermantownWashington County
Median home value$356,700$316,200
Median property tax$4,828$3,795
Effective tax rate1.354%1.200%
Median gross rent$1,310$1,126
Population20,940137,320

The weather behind that power bill

Germantown sits in Washington County, which averages a high of 81.6°F in its hottest month and a low of 10.7°F in its coldest, with 35.84" of precipitation a year and 35% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 532 cooling and 7,420 heating degree days, which is what sets the $177 electricity line above.

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

Other cities in Washington County

Full Washington County cost breakdown · Every county in Wisconsin

Common questions

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

A $357,000 home in Germantown, Wisconsin costs approximately $2,873 per month with 20% down at 6.66%. That is $1,835 principal and interest, $403 property tax, $92 homeowners insurance, $245 utilities and $298 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in Germantown?

Germantown has an effective property tax rate of 1.354%, based on a median home value of $356,700 and median real estate taxes of $4,828. That is higher than the Washington County average of 1.200%.

What is the average home price in Germantown?

The median owner-occupied home value in Germantown, Wisconsin is $356,700, against $316,200 across Washington County.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Germantown?

Median gross rent in Germantown is $1,310 a month, against $2,873 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 Germantown — US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
  • Homeowners insurance — NAIC average premium for Wisconsin.
  • 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