Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Independence, Virginia
A $116,000 home here costs
$1,064per 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 $45,500 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $632. The real number is $432 higher every month, 68% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Grayson County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for Independence from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 1,144 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 Grayson 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.
Independence against Grayson County and Virginia
| Measure | Independence | Grayson County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $115,700 | $132,300 |
| Median property tax | $676 | $820 |
| Effective tax rate | 0.584% | 0.620% |
| Median gross rent | $762 | $712 |
| Population | 1,144 | 15,323 |
The weather behind that power bill
Independence sits in Grayson County, which averages a high of 83.6°F in its hottest month and a low of 22.3°F in its coldest, with 57.09" of precipitation a year and 28% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 651 cooling and 5,148 heating degree days, which is what sets the $182 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Grayson County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Grayson County
No other places of this size are published in Grayson County.
Full Grayson County cost breakdown · Every county in Virginia
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Independence 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 Independence every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Independence I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Independence?
A $116,000 home in Independence, Virginia costs approximately $1,064 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $632 principal and interest, $56 property tax, $29 homeowners insurance, $250 utilities and $97 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Independence?
Independence has an effective property tax rate of 0.584%, based on a median home value of $115,700 and median real estate taxes of $676. That is lower than the Grayson County average of 0.620%.
What is the average home price in Independence?
The median owner-occupied home value in Independence, Virginia is $115,700, against $132,300 across Grayson County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Independence?
Median gross rent in Independence is $762 a month, against $1,064 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 Independence?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Independence, Virginia at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $45,500 a year. That covers the full $1,064 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Independence, US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
- Homeowners insurance, NAIC average premium for Virginia.
- 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.