Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Kettle Falls, Washington
A $215,000 home here costs
$1,712per 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 $73,500 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,172. The real number is $540 higher every month, 46% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Stevens County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for Kettle Falls from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 1,703 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 Stevens 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.
Kettle Falls against Stevens County and Washington
| Measure | Kettle Falls | Stevens County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $215,100 | $308,000 |
| Median property tax | $1,451 | $2,016 |
| Effective tax rate | 0.675% | 0.655% |
| Median gross rent | $807 | $864 |
| Population | 1,703 | 47,470 |
The weather behind that power bill
Kettle Falls sits in Stevens County, which averages a high of 86.3°F in its hottest month and a low of 20.3°F in its coldest, with 21.36" of precipitation a year and 32% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 261 cooling and 7,065 heating degree days, which is what sets the $140 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Stevens County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Stevens County
Full Stevens County cost breakdown · Every county in Washington
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Kettle Falls 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 Kettle Falls every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Kettle Falls I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Kettle Falls?
A $215,000 home in Kettle Falls, Washington costs approximately $1,712 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $1,172 principal and interest, $121 property tax, $32 homeowners insurance, $208 utilities and $179 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Kettle Falls?
Kettle Falls has an effective property tax rate of 0.675%, based on a median home value of $215,100 and median real estate taxes of $1,451. That is higher than the Stevens County average of 0.655%.
What is the average home price in Kettle Falls?
The median owner-occupied home value in Kettle Falls, Washington is $215,100, against $308,000 across Stevens County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Kettle Falls?
Median gross rent in Kettle Falls is $807 a month, against $1,712 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 Kettle Falls?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Kettle Falls, Washington at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $73,500 a year. That covers the full $1,712 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Kettle Falls, US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
- Homeowners insurance, NAIC average premium for Washington.
- 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.