Cost to Own
United States › New York › Orange County › Highland Falls Population 3,696 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 $1,425 a month in taxes, insurance, utilities and upkeep. See the full Orange County picture

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in Highland Falls, New York

A $341,000 home here costs

$3,284

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 $141,000 a year.

P&I 57%Tax 25%Insurance 2%Utilities 7%Upkeep 9%

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,859. The real number is $1,425 higher every month, 77% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

Compare Orange County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown

Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for Highland Falls from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 3,696 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 Orange County figures are drawn from a far larger sample if you want a steadier number.

Highland Falls median: $340,600
Under 20% adds PMI
Freddie Mac PMMS
NY 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, $272,800 borrowed $1,859
Property tax2.936% effective rate for Highland Falls itself $834
Homeowners insuranceNew York averages $1,455/yr (NAIC), or 0.264% of home value $75
Electricity28.65ยข/kWh, New York residential average, EIA $164
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $284
Total monthly $3,284

Highland Falls against Orange County and New York

MeasureHighland FallsOrange County
Median home value$340,600$361,100
Median property tax$10,001$8,463
Effective tax rate2.936%2.344%
Median gross rent$1,731$1,602
Population3,696403,840

The weather behind that power bill

Highland Falls sits in Orange County, which averages a high of 83.6°F in its hottest month and a low of 17.3°F in its coldest, with 40.99" of precipitation a year and 29% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 617 cooling and 6,266 heating degree days, which is what sets the $164 electricity line above.

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

Other cities in Orange County

Full Orange County cost breakdown · Every county in New York

Talk to someone who works this market

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

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

Common questions

How much does it cost to own a home in Highland Falls?

A $341,000 home in Highland Falls, New York costs approximately $3,284 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $1,859 principal and interest, $834 property tax, $75 homeowners insurance, $232 utilities and $284 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in Highland Falls?

Highland Falls has an effective property tax rate of 2.936%, based on a median home value of $340,600 and median real estate taxes of $10,001. That is higher than the Orange County average of 2.344%.

What is the average home price in Highland Falls?

The median owner-occupied home value in Highland Falls, New York is $340,600, against $361,100 across Orange County.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Highland Falls?

Median gross rent in Highland Falls is $1,731 a month, against $3,284 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 Highland Falls?

Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Highland Falls, New York at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $141,000 a year. That covers the full $3,284 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.

Sources & methodology

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