Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in La Grande, Oregon
A $244,000 home here costs
$2,007per 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 $86,000 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,330. The real number is $676 higher every month, 51% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Union County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Where every dollar goes
Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.
La Grande against Union County and Oregon
| Measure | La Grande | Union County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $244,200 | $260,500 |
| Median property tax | $2,758 | $2,307 |
| Effective tax rate | 1.129% | 0.886% |
| Median gross rent | $970 | $982 |
| Population | 13,059 | 26,192 |
The weather behind that power bill
La Grande sits in Union County, which averages a high of 87.0°F in its hottest month and a low of 24.4°F in its coldest, with 17.4" of precipitation a year and 33% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 477 cooling and 6,132 heating degree days, which is what sets the $140 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Union County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Union County
Talk to someone who works this market
These are La Grande 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 La Grande every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in La Grande I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in La Grande?
A $244,000 home in La Grande, Oregon costs approximately $2,007 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $1,330 principal and interest, $230 property tax, $35 homeowners insurance, $208 utilities and $203 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in La Grande?
La Grande has an effective property tax rate of 1.129%, based on a median home value of $244,200 and median real estate taxes of $2,758. That is higher than the Union County average of 0.886%.
What is the average home price in La Grande?
The median owner-occupied home value in La Grande, Oregon is $244,200, against $260,500 across Union County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in La Grande?
Median gross rent in La Grande is $970 a month, against $2,007 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 La Grande?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in La Grande, Oregon at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $86,000 a year. That covers the full $2,007 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for La Grande, 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.