Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Helena Valley West Central, Montana
A $353,000 home here costs
$2,759per 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 $118,000 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,925. The real number is $834 higher every month, 43% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Lewis and Clark 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.
Helena Valley West Central against Lewis and Clark County and Montana
| Measure | Helena Valley West Central | Lewis and Clark County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $352,800 | $358,200 |
| Median property tax | $2,611 | $2,886 |
| Effective tax rate | 0.740% | 0.806% |
| Median gross rent | $1,225 | $1,062 |
| Population | 8,224 | 72,580 |
The weather behind that power bill
Helena Valley West Central sits in Lewis and Clark County, which averages a high of 81.5°F in its hottest month and a low of 16.2°F in its coldest, with 17.09" of precipitation a year and 46% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 218 cooling and 7,893 heating degree days, which is what sets the $133 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Lewis and Clark County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Lewis and Clark County
Full Lewis and Clark County cost breakdown · Every county in Montana
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Helena Valley West Central 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 Helena Valley West Central every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Helena Valley West Central I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Helena Valley West Central?
A $353,000 home in Helena Valley West Central, Montana costs approximately $2,759 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $1,925 principal and interest, $218 property tax, $121 homeowners insurance, $201 utilities and $294 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Helena Valley West Central?
Helena Valley West Central has an effective property tax rate of 0.740%, based on a median home value of $352,800 and median real estate taxes of $2,611. That is lower than the Lewis and Clark County average of 0.806%.
What is the average home price in Helena Valley West Central?
The median owner-occupied home value in Helena Valley West Central, Montana is $352,800, against $358,200 across Lewis and Clark County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Helena Valley West Central?
Median gross rent in Helena Valley West Central is $1,225 a month, against $2,759 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 Helena Valley West Central?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Helena Valley West Central, Montana at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $118,000 a year. That covers the full $2,759 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Helena Valley West Central, 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.