Cost to Own
United StatesNorth CarolinaCraven CountyJames City Population 4,859 Data vintage ACS 2023 5-Year Rates updated 2026-07-30

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in James City, North Carolina

A $176,000 home here costs

$1,398

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

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $905. The real number is $493 higher every month — 55% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

James City median: $175,700
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, $140,800 borrowed $905
Property tax0.540% effective rate for James City itself $79
Homeowners insuranceNorth Carolina averages $1,192/yr (NAIC), or 0.435% of home value $64
Electricity15.09¢/kWh — North Carolina residential average, EIA $136
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $147
Total monthly $1,398

James City against Craven County and North Carolina

MeasureJames CityCraven County
Median home value$175,700$206,200
Median property tax$948$1,372
Effective tax rate0.540%0.665%
Median gross rent$1,028$1,100
Population4,859101,074

The weather behind that power bill

James City sits in Craven County, which averages a high of 89.6°F in its hottest month and a low of 33.8°F in its coldest, with 53.01" of precipitation a year and 37% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 1,897 cooling and 2,698 heating degree days, which is what sets the $136 electricity line above.

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

Other cities in Craven County

Full Craven County cost breakdown · Every county in North Carolina

Common questions

How much does it cost to own a home in James City?

A $176,000 home in James City, North Carolina costs approximately $1,398 per month with 20% down at 6.66%. That is $905 principal and interest, $79 property tax, $64 homeowners insurance, $204 utilities and $147 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in James City?

James City has an effective property tax rate of 0.540%, based on a median home value of $175,700 and median real estate taxes of $948. That is lower than the Craven County average of 0.665%.

What is the average home price in James City?

The median owner-occupied home value in James City, North Carolina is $175,700, against $206,200 across Craven County.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in James City?

Median gross rent in James City is $1,028 a month, against $1,398 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 James City — US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
  • Homeowners insurance — NAIC average premium for North Carolina.
  • 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