Cost to Own
United StatesMichiganLivingston CountyHowell Population 10,074 Data vintage ACS 2023 5-Year Rates updated 2026-07-30

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in Howell, Michigan

A $241,000 home here costs

$2,021

per month, all in — with 20% down at today's 6.66% 30-year fixed rate.

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,239. The real number is $782 higher every month — 63% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

Howell median: $240,700
Under 20% adds PMI
Freddie Mac PMMS
US 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, $192,800 borrowed $1,239
Property tax1.122% effective rate for Howell itself $225
Homeowners insuranceMichigan averages $993/yr (NAIC), or 0.448% of home value $90
Electricity22.01¢/kWh — Michigan residential average, EIA $198
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $201
Total monthly $2,021

Howell against Livingston County and Michigan

MeasureHowellLivingston County
Median home value$240,700$331,100
Median property tax$2,701$3,269
Effective tax rate1.122%0.987%
Median gross rent$1,121$1,236
Population10,074195,143

The weather behind that power bill

Howell sits in Livingston County, which averages a high of 83.2°F in its hottest month and a low of 14.4°F in its coldest, with 33.13" of precipitation a year and 31% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 542 cooling and 6,885 heating degree days, which is what sets the $198 electricity line above.

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

Other cities in Livingston County

Full Livingston County cost breakdown · Every county in Michigan

Common questions

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

A $241,000 home in Howell, Michigan costs approximately $2,021 per month with 20% down at 6.66%. That is $1,239 principal and interest, $225 property tax, $90 homeowners insurance, $266 utilities and $201 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in Howell?

Howell has an effective property tax rate of 1.122%, based on a median home value of $240,700 and median real estate taxes of $2,701. That is higher than the Livingston County average of 0.987%.

What is the average home price in Howell?

The median owner-occupied home value in Howell, Michigan is $240,700, against $331,100 across Livingston County.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Howell?

Median gross rent in Howell is $1,121 a month, against $2,021 to own the median home all in. Renting costs less month to month here, though renting builds no equity.

Sources & methodology

  • Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Howell — 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.

Full methodology