Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Joseph, Oregon
A $314,000 home here costs
$2,411per 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 $103,500 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,712. The real number is $699 higher every month, 41% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Wallowa County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for Joseph from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 1,090 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 Wallowa 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.
Joseph against Wallowa County and Oregon
| Measure | Joseph | Wallowa County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $314,200 | $371,900 |
| Median property tax | $2,210 | $2,173 |
| Effective tax rate | 0.703% | 0.584% |
| Median gross rent | $850 | $858 |
| Population | 1,090 | 7,532 |
The weather behind that power bill
Joseph sits in Wallowa County, which averages a high of 88.7°F in its hottest month and a low of 17.5°F in its coldest, with 18.96" of precipitation a year and 32% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 248 cooling and 7,116 heating degree days, which is what sets the $140 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Wallowa County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Wallowa County
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Joseph 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 Joseph every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Joseph I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Joseph?
A $314,000 home in Joseph, Oregon costs approximately $2,411 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $1,712 principal and interest, $184 property tax, $45 homeowners insurance, $208 utilities and $262 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Joseph?
Joseph has an effective property tax rate of 0.703%, based on a median home value of $314,200 and median real estate taxes of $2,210. That is higher than the Wallowa County average of 0.584%.
What is the average home price in Joseph?
The median owner-occupied home value in Joseph, Oregon is $314,200, against $371,900 across Wallowa County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Joseph?
Median gross rent in Joseph is $850 a month, against $2,411 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 Joseph?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Joseph, Oregon at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $103,500 a year. That covers the full $2,411 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Joseph, US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
- Homeowners insurance, NAIC average premium for Oregon.
- 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.