Cost to Own
United States › North Carolina › Guilford County › Greensboro Population 298,564 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 $666 a month in taxes, insurance, utilities and upkeep. See the full Guilford County picture

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in Greensboro, North Carolina

A $221,000 home here costs

$1,890

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 $81,000 a year.

P&I 65%Tax 9%Insurance 4%Utilities 12%Upkeep 10%

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,224. The real number is $666 higher every month, 54% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

Compare Guilford County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown

Greensboro median: $221,300
Under 20% adds PMI
Freddie Mac PMMS
NC 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, $176,800 borrowed $1,224
Property tax0.974% effective rate for Greensboro itself $179
Homeowners insuranceNorth Carolina averages $1,192/yr (NAIC), or 0.435% of home value $80
Electricity15.16ยข/kWh, North Carolina residential average, EIA $154
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $184
Total monthly $1,890

Greensboro against Guilford County and North Carolina

MeasureGreensboroGuilford County
Median home value$221,300$234,900
Median property tax$2,155$2,075
Effective tax rate0.974%0.883%
Median gross rent$1,114$1,108
Population298,564542,987

The weather behind that power bill

Greensboro sits in Guilford County, which averages a high of 88.6°F in its hottest month and a low of 29.8°F in its coldest, with 45.89" of precipitation a year and 34% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 1,567 cooling and 3,438 heating degree days, which is what sets the $154 electricity line above.

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

Other cities in Guilford County

Full Guilford County cost breakdown · Every county in North Carolina

Talk to someone who works this market

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

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

Common questions

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

A $221,000 home in Greensboro, North Carolina costs approximately $1,890 per month with 20% down at 7.4%. That is $1,224 principal and interest, $179 property tax, $80 homeowners insurance, $222 utilities and $184 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in Greensboro?

Greensboro has an effective property tax rate of 0.974%, based on a median home value of $221,300 and median real estate taxes of $2,155. That is higher than the Guilford County average of 0.883%.

What is the average home price in Greensboro?

The median owner-occupied home value in Greensboro, North Carolina is $221,300, against $234,900 across Guilford County.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Greensboro?

Median gross rent in Greensboro is $1,114 a month, against $1,890 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 Greensboro?

Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Greensboro, North Carolina at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $81,000 a year. That covers the full $1,890 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.

Sources & methodology

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