Cost to Own
United StatesMichiganKent CountyKentwood Population 54,114 Data vintage ACS 2023 5-Year Rates updated 2026-07-30

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in Kentwood, Michigan

A $249,000 home here costs

$2,112

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

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,280. The real number is $832 higher every month — 65% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

Kentwood median: $249,000
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, $199,200 borrowed $1,280
Property tax1.280% effective rate for Kentwood itself $266
Homeowners insuranceMichigan averages $993/yr (NAIC), or 0.448% of home value $93
Electricity22.01¢/kWh — Michigan residential average, EIA $198
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $208
Total monthly $2,112

Kentwood against Kent County and Michigan

MeasureKentwoodKent County
Median home value$249,000$265,700
Median property tax$3,186$3,028
Effective tax rate1.280%1.140%
Median gross rent$1,205$1,176
Population54,114658,844

The weather behind that power bill

Kentwood sits in Kent County, which averages a high of 83.1°F in its hottest month and a low of 18.6°F in its coldest, with 39.4" of precipitation a year and 30% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 732 cooling and 6,408 heating degree days, which is what sets the $198 electricity line above.

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

Other cities in Kent County

Full Kent County cost breakdown · Every county in Michigan

Common questions

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

A $249,000 home in Kentwood, Michigan costs approximately $2,112 per month with 20% down at 6.66%. That is $1,280 principal and interest, $266 property tax, $93 homeowners insurance, $266 utilities and $208 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in Kentwood?

Kentwood has an effective property tax rate of 1.280%, based on a median home value of $249,000 and median real estate taxes of $3,186. That is higher than the Kent County average of 1.140%.

What is the average home price in Kentwood?

The median owner-occupied home value in Kentwood, Michigan is $249,000, against $265,700 across Kent County.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Kentwood?

Median gross rent in Kentwood is $1,205 a month, against $2,112 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 Kentwood — US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
  • Homeowners insurance — NAIC average premium for Michigan.
  • 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