Cost to Own
United States › North Dakota › Ward County › Kenmare Population 1,027 Data vintage ACS 2023 5-Year Rates updated 2026-10-29
The part nobody budgets Even with the mortgage fully paid off, the median home here still costs $468 a month in taxes, insurance, utilities and upkeep. See the full Ward County picture

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in Kenmare, North Dakota

A $122,000 home here costs

$1,133

per 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 $48,500 a year.

P&I 59%Tax 10%Insurance 5%Utilities 18%Upkeep 9%

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $665. The real number is $468 higher every month, 70% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

Compare Ward County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown

Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for Kenmare from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 1,027 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 Ward County figures are drawn from a far larger sample if you want a steadier number.

Kenmare median: $122,000
Under 20% adds PMI
Freddie Mac PMMS
ND 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, $97,600 borrowed $665
Property tax1.075% effective rate for Kenmare itself $109
Homeowners insuranceNorth Dakota averages $1,256/yr (NAIC), or 0.515% of home value $52
Electricity13.31ยข/kWh, North Dakota residential average, EIA $137
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $102
Total monthly $1,133

Kenmare against Ward County and North Dakota

MeasureKenmareWard County
Median home value$122,000$259,100
Median property tax$1,312$2,785
Effective tax rate1.075%1.075%
Median gross rent$815$1,000
Population1,02769,232

The weather behind that power bill

Kenmare sits in Ward County, which averages a high of 83.8°F in its hottest month and a low of 4.4°F in its coldest, with 16.71" of precipitation a year and 54% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 552 cooling and 8,382 heating degree days, which is what sets the $137 electricity line above.

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

Other cities in Ward County

Full Ward County cost breakdown · Every county in North Dakota

Talk to someone who works this market

These are Kenmare 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 Kenmare every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.

I'm looking to buy in Kenmare I already own here and may sell

Common questions

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

A $122,000 home in Kenmare, North Dakota costs approximately $1,133 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $665 principal and interest, $109 property tax, $52 homeowners insurance, $205 utilities and $102 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in Kenmare?

Kenmare has an effective property tax rate of 1.075%, based on a median home value of $122,000 and median real estate taxes of $1,312. That is in line with the Ward County average of 1.075%.

What is the average home price in Kenmare?

The median owner-occupied home value in Kenmare, North Dakota is $122,000, against $259,100 across Ward County.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Kenmare?

Median gross rent in Kenmare is $815 a month, against $1,133 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 Kenmare?

Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Kenmare, North Dakota at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $48,500 a year. That covers the full $1,133 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.

Sources & methodology

  • Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Kenmare, US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
  • Homeowners insurance, NAIC average premium for North Dakota.
  • 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