Cost to Own
United States › Ohio › Lorain County › Grafton Population 5,665 Data vintage ACS 2023 5-Year Rates updated 2026-10-15
The part nobody budgets Even with the mortgage fully paid off, the median home here still costs $686 a month in taxes, insurance, utilities and upkeep. See the full Lorain County picture

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in Grafton, Ohio

A $199,000 home here costs

$1,789

per 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 $76,500 a year.

P&I 62%Tax 12%Insurance 4%Utilities 13%Upkeep 9%

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,102. The real number is $686 higher every month, 62% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

Compare Lorain County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown

Grafton median: $198,500
Under 20% adds PMI
Freddie Mac PMMS
OH 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, $159,200 borrowed $1,102
Property tax1.291% effective rate for Grafton itself $214
Homeowners insuranceOhio averages $920/yr (NAIC), or 0.446% of home value $74
Electricity19.45ยข/kWh, Ohio residential average, EIA $165
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $166
Total monthly $1,789

Grafton against Lorain County and Ohio

MeasureGraftonLorain County
Median home value$198,500$207,200
Median property tax$2,563$2,992
Effective tax rate1.291%1.444%
Median gross rent$1,048$916
Population5,665314,588

The weather behind that power bill

Grafton sits in Lorain County, which averages a high of 82.3°F in its hottest month and a low of 19.8°F in its coldest, with 36.72" of precipitation a year and 30% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 690 cooling and 6,045 heating degree days, which is what sets the $165 electricity line above.

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

Other cities in Lorain County

Full Lorain County cost breakdown · Every county in Ohio

Talk to someone who works this market

These are Grafton 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 Grafton every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.

I'm looking to buy in Grafton I already own here and may sell

Common questions

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

A $199,000 home in Grafton, Ohio costs approximately $1,789 per month with 20% down at 7.4%. That is $1,102 principal and interest, $214 property tax, $74 homeowners insurance, $233 utilities and $166 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in Grafton?

Grafton has an effective property tax rate of 1.291%, based on a median home value of $198,500 and median real estate taxes of $2,563. That is lower than the Lorain County average of 1.444%.

What is the average home price in Grafton?

The median owner-occupied home value in Grafton, Ohio is $198,500, against $207,200 across Lorain County.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Grafton?

Median gross rent in Grafton is $1,048 a month, against $1,789 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 Grafton?

Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Grafton, Ohio at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $76,500 a year. That covers the full $1,789 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.

Sources & methodology

  • Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Grafton, US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
  • Homeowners insurance, NAIC average premium for Ohio.
  • 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