Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Golden, Colorado
A $791,000 home here costs
$5,745per month, all in, with 20% down at today's 7.40% 30-year fixed rate. By the 28% rule that takes a household income of about $246,000 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $4,381. The real number is $1,363 higher every month, 31% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Jefferson 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.
Golden against Jefferson County and Colorado
| Measure | Golden | Jefferson County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $790,500 | $604,400 |
| Median property tax | $3,505 | $2,867 |
| Effective tax rate | 0.443% | 0.474% |
| Median gross rent | $1,854 | $1,792 |
| Population | 20,467 | 579,715 |
The weather behind that power bill
Golden sits in Jefferson County, which averages a high of 81.2°F in its hottest month and a low of 12.5°F in its coldest, with 18.62" of precipitation a year and 36% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 99 cooling and 7,467 heating degree days, which is what sets the $115 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Jefferson County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Jefferson County
Full Jefferson County cost breakdown · Every county in Colorado
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Golden 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 Golden every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Golden I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Golden?
A $791,000 home in Golden, Colorado costs approximately $5,745 per month with 20% down at 7.4%. That is $4,381 principal and interest, $292 property tax, $229 homeowners insurance, $183 utilities and $659 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Golden?
Golden has an effective property tax rate of 0.443%, based on a median home value of $790,500 and median real estate taxes of $3,505. That is lower than the Jefferson County average of 0.474%.
What is the average home price in Golden?
The median owner-occupied home value in Golden, Colorado is $790,500, against $604,400 across Jefferson County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Golden?
Median gross rent in Golden is $1,854 a month, against $5,745 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 Golden?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Golden, Colorado at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $246,000 a year. That covers the full $5,745 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Golden, US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
- Homeowners insurance, NAIC average premium for Colorado.
- 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.