Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Hartford, Wisconsin
A $261,000 home here costs
$2,186per 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 $93,500 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,423. The real number is $763 higher every month, 54% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Washington 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.
Hartford against Washington County and Wisconsin
| Measure | Hartford | Washington County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $261,300 | $316,200 |
| Median property tax | $3,423 | $3,795 |
| Effective tax rate | 1.310% | 1.200% |
| Median gross rent | $1,095 | $1,126 |
| Population | 15,761 | 137,320 |
Hartford extends across 2 counties. Figures here use Washington County, where most of its housing sits.
The weather behind that power bill
Hartford sits in Washington County, which averages a high of 81.6°F in its hottest month and a low of 10.7°F in its coldest, with 35.84" of precipitation a year and 35% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 532 cooling and 7,420 heating degree days, which is what sets the $125 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Washington County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Washington County
Full Washington County cost breakdown · Every county in Wisconsin
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Hartford 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 Hartford every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Hartford I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Hartford?
A $261,000 home in Hartford, Wisconsin costs approximately $2,186 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $1,423 principal and interest, $285 property tax, $67 homeowners insurance, $193 utilities and $218 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Hartford?
Hartford has an effective property tax rate of 1.310%, based on a median home value of $261,300 and median real estate taxes of $3,423. That is higher than the Washington County average of 1.200%.
What is the average home price in Hartford?
The median owner-occupied home value in Hartford, Wisconsin is $261,300, against $316,200 across Washington County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Hartford?
Median gross rent in Hartford is $1,095 a month, against $2,186 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 Hartford?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Hartford, Wisconsin at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $93,500 a year. That covers the full $2,186 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Hartford, US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
- Homeowners insurance, NAIC average premium for Wisconsin.
- 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.