Cost to Own
United States › Ohio › Highland County › Hillsboro Population 6,539 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 $501 a month in taxes, insurance, utilities and upkeep. See the full Highland County picture

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in Hillsboro, Ohio

A $137,000 home here costs

$1,248

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 $53,500 a year.

P&I 60%Tax 8%Insurance 4%Utilities 19%Upkeep 9%

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $747. The real number is $501 higher every month, 67% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

Compare Highland County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown

Hillsboro median: $136,900
Under 20% adds PMI
Freddie Mac PMMS
OH 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, $109,600 borrowed $747
Property tax0.909% effective rate for Hillsboro itself $104
Homeowners insuranceOhio averages $920/yr (NAIC), or 0.446% of home value $51
Electricity19.38ยข/kWh, Ohio residential average, EIA $164
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $114
Total monthly $1,248

Hillsboro against Highland County and Ohio

MeasureHillsboroHighland County
Median home value$136,900$157,000
Median property tax$1,244$1,475
Effective tax rate0.909%0.939%
Median gross rent$734$757
Population6,53943,403

The weather behind that power bill

Hillsboro sits in Highland County, which averages a high of 84.6°F in its hottest month and a low of 19.4°F in its coldest, with 46.68" of precipitation a year and 32% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 829 cooling and 5,441 heating degree days, which is what sets the $164 electricity line above.

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

Other cities in Highland County

Full Highland County cost breakdown · Every county in Ohio

Talk to someone who works this market

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

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

Common questions

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

A $137,000 home in Hillsboro, Ohio costs approximately $1,248 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $747 principal and interest, $104 property tax, $51 homeowners insurance, $232 utilities and $114 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in Hillsboro?

Hillsboro has an effective property tax rate of 0.909%, based on a median home value of $136,900 and median real estate taxes of $1,244. That is lower than the Highland County average of 0.939%.

What is the average home price in Hillsboro?

The median owner-occupied home value in Hillsboro, Ohio is $136,900, against $157,000 across Highland County.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Hillsboro?

Median gross rent in Hillsboro is $734 a month, against $1,248 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 Hillsboro?

Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Hillsboro, Ohio at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $53,500 a year. That covers the full $1,248 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.

Sources & methodology

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