Cost to Own
United States › Colorado › Douglas County › Highlands Ranch Population 101,437 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 $1,230 a month in taxes, insurance, utilities and upkeep. See the full Douglas County picture

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in Highlands Ranch, Colorado

A $673,000 home here costs

$4,899

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 $210,000 a year.

P&I 75%Tax 6%Insurance 4%Utilities 4%Upkeep 11%

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $3,669. The real number is $1,230 higher every month, 34% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

Compare Douglas County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown

Highlands Ranch median: $672,600
Under 20% adds PMI
Freddie Mac PMMS
CO 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, $538,400 borrowed $3,669
Property tax0.517% effective rate for Highlands Ranch itself $290
Homeowners insuranceColorado averages $1,802/yr (NAIC), or 0.348% of home value $195
Electricity17.17ยข/kWh, Colorado residential average, EIA $116
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $561
Total monthly $4,899

Highlands Ranch against Douglas County and Colorado

MeasureHighlands RanchDouglas County
Median home value$672,600$674,000
Median property tax$3,476$3,707
Effective tax rate0.517%0.550%
Median gross rent$2,397$2,095
Population101,437368,283

The weather behind that power bill

Highlands Ranch sits in Douglas County, which averages a high of 85.7°F in its hottest month and a low of 18.0°F in its coldest, with 17.6" of precipitation a year and 40% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 498 cooling and 6,103 heating degree days, which is what sets the $116 electricity line above.

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

Other cities in Douglas County

Full Douglas County cost breakdown · Every county in Colorado

Talk to someone who works this market

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

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

Common questions

How much does it cost to own a home in Highlands Ranch?

A $673,000 home in Highlands Ranch, Colorado costs approximately $4,899 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $3,669 principal and interest, $290 property tax, $195 homeowners insurance, $184 utilities and $561 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in Highlands Ranch?

Highlands Ranch has an effective property tax rate of 0.517%, based on a median home value of $672,600 and median real estate taxes of $3,476. That is lower than the Douglas County average of 0.550%.

What is the average home price in Highlands Ranch?

The median owner-occupied home value in Highlands Ranch, Colorado is $672,600, against $674,000 across Douglas County.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Highlands Ranch?

Median gross rent in Highlands Ranch is $2,397 a month, against $4,899 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 Highlands Ranch?

Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Highlands Ranch, Colorado at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $210,000 a year. That covers the full $4,899 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.

Sources & methodology

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