Cost to Own
United States › Kansas › Harper County › Harper Population 1,191 Data vintage ACS 2023 5-Year Rates updated 2026-10-29
The part nobody budgets Even with the mortgage fully paid off, the median home here still costs $448 a month in taxes, insurance, utilities and upkeep. See the full Harper County picture

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in Harper, Kansas

A $80,000 home here costs

$884

per 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 $38,000 a year.

P&I 49%Tax 15%Insurance 5%Utilities 23%Upkeep 8%

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $436. The real number is $448 higher every month, 103% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

Compare Harper County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown

Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for Harper from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 1,191 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 Harper County figures are drawn from a far larger sample if you want a steadier number.

Harper median: $80,300
Under 20% adds PMI
Freddie Mac PMMS
KS 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, $64,000 borrowed $436
Property tax1.969% effective rate for Harper itself $131
Homeowners insuranceKansas averages $1,491/yr (NAIC), or 0.7% of home value $47
Electricity15.47ยข/kWh, Kansas residential average, EIA $136
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $67
Total monthly $884

Harper against Harper County and Kansas

MeasureHarperHarper County
Median home value$80,300$77,300
Median property tax$1,581$1,379
Effective tax rate1.969%1.784%
Median gross rent$809$693
Population1,1915,446

The weather behind that power bill

Harper sits in Harper County, which averages a high of 92.9°F in its hottest month and a low of 22.4°F in its coldest, with 33.14" of precipitation a year and 41% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 1,715 cooling and 4,436 heating degree days, which is what sets the $136 electricity line above.

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

Other cities in Harper County

Full Harper County cost breakdown · Every county in Kansas

Talk to someone who works this market

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

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

Common questions

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

A $80,000 home in Harper, Kansas costs approximately $884 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $436 principal and interest, $131 property tax, $47 homeowners insurance, $204 utilities and $67 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in Harper?

Harper has an effective property tax rate of 1.969%, based on a median home value of $80,300 and median real estate taxes of $1,581. That is higher than the Harper County average of 1.784%.

What is the average home price in Harper?

The median owner-occupied home value in Harper, Kansas is $80,300, against $77,300 across Harper County.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Harper?

Median gross rent in Harper is $809 a month, against $884 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 Harper?

Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Harper, Kansas at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $38,000 a year. That covers the full $884 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.

Sources & methodology

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