Cost to Own
United StatesMontanaFlathead CountyHelena Flats Population 1,014 Data vintage ACS 2023 5-Year Rates updated 2026-07-30

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in Helena Flats, Montana

A $545,000 home here costs

$3,884

per month, all in — with 20% down at today's 6.66% 30-year fixed rate.

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $2,802. The real number is $1,082 higher every month — 39% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

Helena Flats median: $544,900
Under 20% adds PMI
Freddie Mac PMMS
US 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, $436,000 borrowed $2,802
Property tax0.529% effective rate for Helena Flats itself $240
Homeowners insuranceMontana averages $1,471/yr (NAIC), or 0.413% of home value $188
Electricity14.67¢/kWh — Montana residential average, EIA $132
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $454
Total monthly $3,884

Helena Flats against Flathead County and Montana

MeasureHelena FlatsFlathead County
Median home value$544,900$467,700
Median property tax$2,883$2,867
Effective tax rate0.529%0.613%
Median gross rent$1,094
Population1,014108,445

The weather behind that power bill

Helena Flats sits in Flathead County, which averages a high of 82.3°F in its hottest month and a low of 19.8°F in its coldest, with 34.62" of precipitation a year and 32% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 293 cooling and 7,787 heating degree days, which is what sets the $132 electricity line above.

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

Other cities in Flathead County

Full Flathead County cost breakdown · Every county in Montana

Common questions

How much does it cost to own a home in Helena Flats?

A $545,000 home in Helena Flats, Montana costs approximately $3,884 per month with 20% down at 6.66%. That is $2,802 principal and interest, $240 property tax, $188 homeowners insurance, $200 utilities and $454 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in Helena Flats?

Helena Flats has an effective property tax rate of 0.529%, based on a median home value of $544,900 and median real estate taxes of $2,883. That is lower than the Flathead County average of 0.613%.

What is the average home price in Helena Flats?

The median owner-occupied home value in Helena Flats, Montana is $544,900, against $467,700 across Flathead County.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Helena Flats?

Rent data is not published for Helena Flats at this level of detail.

Sources & methodology

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