Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Grass Lake, Michigan
A $199,000 home here costs
$1,791per 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 $77,000 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,085. The real number is $706 higher every month, 65% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Jackson County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for Grass Lake from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 1,235 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 Jackson 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.
Grass Lake against Jackson County and Michigan
| Measure | Grass Lake | Jackson County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $199,400 | $182,900 |
| Median property tax | $3,081 | $2,353 |
| Effective tax rate | 1.545% | 1.286% |
| Median gross rent | $954 | $958 |
| Population | 1,235 | 160,187 |
The weather behind that power bill
Grass Lake sits in Jackson County, which averages a high of 82.5°F in its hottest month and a low of 17.5°F in its coldest, with 32.19" of precipitation a year and 33% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 634 cooling and 6,470 heating degree days, which is what sets the $142 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Jackson County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Jackson County
Full Jackson County cost breakdown · Every county in Michigan
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Grass Lake 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 Grass Lake every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Grass Lake I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Grass Lake?
A $199,000 home in Grass Lake, Michigan costs approximately $1,791 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $1,085 principal and interest, $256 property tax, $74 homeowners insurance, $210 utilities and $166 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Grass Lake?
Grass Lake has an effective property tax rate of 1.545%, based on a median home value of $199,400 and median real estate taxes of $3,081. That is higher than the Jackson County average of 1.286%.
What is the average home price in Grass Lake?
The median owner-occupied home value in Grass Lake, Michigan is $199,400, against $182,900 across Jackson County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Grass Lake?
Median gross rent in Grass Lake is $954 a month, against $1,791 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 Grass Lake?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Grass Lake, Michigan at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $77,000 a year. That covers the full $1,791 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Grass Lake, US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
- Homeowners insurance, NAIC average premium for Michigan.
- 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.