Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Jefferson, Maryland
A $479,000 home here costs
$3,764per 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 $161,500 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $2,612. The real number is $1,153 higher every month, 44% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Frederick County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for Jefferson from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 2,891 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 Frederick 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.
Jefferson against Frederick County and Maryland
| Measure | Jefferson | Frederick County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $479,400 | $437,700 |
| Median property tax | $4,405 | $4,463 |
| Effective tax rate | 0.919% | 1.020% |
| Median gross rent | $1,347 | $1,706 |
| Population | 2,891 | 280,341 |
The weather behind that power bill
Jefferson sits in Frederick County, which averages a high of 88.6°F in its hottest month and a low of 26.5°F in its coldest, with 43.52" of precipitation a year and 29% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 1,397 cooling and 4,275 heating degree days, which is what sets the $199 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Frederick County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Frederick County
Full Frederick County cost breakdown · Every county in Maryland
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Jefferson 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 Jefferson every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Jefferson I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Jefferson?
A $479,000 home in Jefferson, Maryland costs approximately $3,764 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $2,612 principal and interest, $367 property tax, $120 homeowners insurance, $267 utilities and $399 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Jefferson?
Jefferson has an effective property tax rate of 0.919%, based on a median home value of $479,400 and median real estate taxes of $4,405. That is lower than the Frederick County average of 1.020%.
What is the average home price in Jefferson?
The median owner-occupied home value in Jefferson, Maryland is $479,400, against $437,700 across Frederick County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Jefferson?
Median gross rent in Jefferson is $1,347 a month, against $3,764 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 Jefferson?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Jefferson, Maryland at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $161,500 a year. That covers the full $3,764 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Jefferson, US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
- Homeowners insurance, NAIC average premium for Maryland.
- 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.