Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Howard, Wisconsin
A $286,000 home here costs
$2,395per month, all in, with 20% down at today's 7.32% 30-year fixed rate. By the 28% rule that takes a household income of about $102,500 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,572. The real number is $823 higher every month, 52% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Brown County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Where every dollar goes
Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.
Howard against Brown County and Wisconsin
| Measure | Howard | Brown County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $286,200 | $245,900 |
| Median property tax | $3,822 | $3,593 |
| Effective tax rate | 1.335% | 1.461% |
| Median gross rent | $1,053 | $973 |
| Population | 20,261 | 269,425 |
Howard extends across 2 counties. Figures here use Brown County, where most of its housing sits.
The weather behind that power bill
Howard sits in Brown County, which averages a high of 81.0°F in its hottest month and a low of 11.1°F in its coldest, with 31.61" of precipitation a year and 35% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 508 cooling and 7,505 heating degree days, which is what sets the $125 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Brown County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Brown County
Full Brown County cost breakdown · Every county in Wisconsin
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Howard 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 every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Howard I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Howard?
A $286,000 home in Howard, Wisconsin costs approximately $2,395 per month with 20% down at 7.32%. That is $1,572 principal and interest, $318 property tax, $74 homeowners insurance, $193 utilities and $238 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Howard?
Howard has an effective property tax rate of 1.335%, based on a median home value of $286,200 and median real estate taxes of $3,822. That is lower than the Brown County average of 1.461%.
What is the average home price in Howard?
The median owner-occupied home value in Howard, Wisconsin is $286,200, against $245,900 across Brown County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Howard?
Median gross rent in Howard is $1,053 a month, against $2,395 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?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Howard, Wisconsin at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $102,500 a year. That covers the full $2,395 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Howard, 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.