Cost to Own
United States › Wisconsin › Sawyer County › Hayward Population 2,549 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 $550 a month in taxes, insurance, utilities and upkeep. See the full Sawyer County picture

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in Hayward, Wisconsin

A $184,000 home here costs

$1,553

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 $66,500 a year.

P&I 65%Tax 10%Insurance 3%Utilities 12%Upkeep 10%

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,003. The real number is $550 higher every month, 55% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

Compare Sawyer County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown

Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for Hayward from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 2,549 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 Sawyer County figures are drawn from a far larger sample if you want a steadier number.

Hayward median: $184,200
Under 20% adds PMI
Freddie Mac PMMS
WI 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, $147,200 borrowed $1,003
Property tax1.020% effective rate for Hayward itself $156
Homeowners insuranceWisconsin averages $780/yr (NAIC), or 0.309% of home value $47
Electricity19.41ยข/kWh, Wisconsin residential average, EIA $125
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $153
Total monthly $1,553

Hayward against Sawyer County and Wisconsin

MeasureHaywardSawyer County
Median home value$184,200$223,300
Median property tax$1,878$1,899
Effective tax rate1.020%0.850%
Median gross rent$691$683
Population2,54918,243

The weather behind that power bill

Hayward sits in Sawyer County, which averages a high of 77.7°F in its hottest month and a low of 1.6°F in its coldest, with 35.17" of precipitation a year and 38% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 263 cooling and 8,997 heating degree days, which is what sets the $125 electricity line above.

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

Other cities in Sawyer County

Full Sawyer County cost breakdown · Every county in Wisconsin

Talk to someone who works this market

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

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

Common questions

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

A $184,000 home in Hayward, Wisconsin costs approximately $1,553 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $1,003 principal and interest, $156 property tax, $47 homeowners insurance, $193 utilities and $153 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in Hayward?

Hayward has an effective property tax rate of 1.020%, based on a median home value of $184,200 and median real estate taxes of $1,878. That is higher than the Sawyer County average of 0.850%.

What is the average home price in Hayward?

The median owner-occupied home value in Hayward, Wisconsin is $184,200, against $223,300 across Sawyer County.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Hayward?

Median gross rent in Hayward is $691 a month, against $1,553 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 Hayward?

Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Hayward, Wisconsin at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $66,500 a year. That covers the full $1,553 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.

Sources & methodology

  • Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Hayward, 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.

Full methodology