Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Howard City, Michigan
A $144,000 home here costs
$1,289per 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 $55,000 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $785. The real number is $504 higher every month, 64% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Montcalm County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for Howard City from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 1,683 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 Montcalm County figures are drawn from a far larger sample if you want a steadier number.
Where every dollar goes
Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.
Howard City against Montcalm County and Michigan
| Measure | Howard City | Montcalm County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $143,800 | $172,100 |
| Median property tax | $1,438 | $1,851 |
| Effective tax rate | 1.000% | 1.076% |
| Median gross rent | $708 | $867 |
| Population | 1,683 | 67,174 |
The weather behind that power bill
Howard City sits in Montcalm County, which averages a high of 84.3°F in its hottest month and a low of 12.9°F in its coldest, with 36.65" of precipitation a year and 32% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 520 cooling and 7,060 heating degree days, which is what sets the $142 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Montcalm County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Montcalm County
Full Montcalm County cost breakdown · Every county in Michigan
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Howard City 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 Howard City every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Howard City I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Howard City?
A $144,000 home in Howard City, Michigan costs approximately $1,289 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $785 principal and interest, $120 property tax, $54 homeowners insurance, $210 utilities and $120 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Howard City?
Howard City has an effective property tax rate of 1.000%, based on a median home value of $143,800 and median real estate taxes of $1,438. That is lower than the Montcalm County average of 1.076%.
What is the average home price in Howard City?
The median owner-occupied home value in Howard City, Michigan is $143,800, against $172,100 across Montcalm County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Howard City?
Median gross rent in Howard City is $708 a month, against $1,289 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 Howard City?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Howard City, Michigan at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $55,000 a year. That covers the full $1,289 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Howard City, US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
- Homeowners insurance, NAIC average premium for Michigan.
- 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.