Cost to Own
United States › Wisconsin › Vernon County › Hillsboro Population 1,324 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 $524 a month in taxes, insurance, utilities and upkeep. See the full Vernon County picture

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in Hillsboro, Wisconsin

A $147,000 home here costs

$1,326

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 $57,000 a year.

P&I 60%Tax 13%Insurance 3%Utilities 15%Upkeep 9%

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $801. The real number is $524 higher every month, 65% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

Compare Vernon County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown

Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for Hillsboro from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 1,324 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 Vernon County figures are drawn from a far larger sample if you want a steadier number.

Hillsboro median: $146,600
Under 20% adds PMI
Freddie Mac PMMS
WI 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, $117,600 borrowed $801
Property tax1.394% effective rate for Hillsboro itself $171
Homeowners insuranceWisconsin averages $780/yr (NAIC), or 0.309% of home value $38
Electricity19.41ยข/kWh, Wisconsin residential average, EIA $125
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $123
Total monthly $1,326

Hillsboro against Vernon County and Wisconsin

MeasureHillsboroVernon County
Median home value$146,600$210,600
Median property tax$2,044$2,883
Effective tax rate1.394%1.369%
Median gross rent$775$826
Population1,32430,915

The weather behind that power bill

Hillsboro sits in Vernon County, which averages a high of 79.1°F in its hottest month and a low of 6.1°F in its coldest, with 38" of precipitation a year and 39% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 396 cooling and 8,132 heating degree days, which is what sets the $125 electricity line above.

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

Other cities in Vernon County

Full Vernon County cost breakdown · Every county in Wisconsin

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 $147,000 home in Hillsboro, Wisconsin costs approximately $1,326 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $801 principal and interest, $171 property tax, $38 homeowners insurance, $193 utilities and $123 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in Hillsboro?

Hillsboro has an effective property tax rate of 1.394%, based on a median home value of $146,600 and median real estate taxes of $2,044. That is higher than the Vernon County average of 1.369%.

What is the average home price in Hillsboro?

The median owner-occupied home value in Hillsboro, Wisconsin is $146,600, against $210,600 across Vernon County.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Hillsboro?

Median gross rent in Hillsboro is $775 a month, against $1,326 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, Wisconsin at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $57,000 a year. That covers the full $1,326 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 Wisconsin.
  • 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