Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in La Plata, Maryland
A $405,000 home here costs
$3,323per month, all in, with 20% down at today's 7.32% 30-year fixed rate. By the 28% rule that takes a household income of about $142,500 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $2,226. The real number is $1,098 higher every month, 49% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Charles 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 Plata against Charles County and Maryland
| Measure | La Plata | Charles County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $405,200 | $402,300 |
| Median property tax | $4,708 | $4,179 |
| Effective tax rate | 1.162% | 1.039% |
| Median gross rent | $1,483 | $1,897 |
| Population | 10,470 | 168,710 |
The weather behind that power bill
La Plata sits in Charles County, which averages a high of 88.0°F in its hottest month and a low of 28.3°F in its coldest, with 41.03" of precipitation a year and 30% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 1,512 cooling and 4,002 heating degree days, which is what sets the $199 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Charles County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Charles County
Full Charles County cost breakdown · Every county in Maryland
Talk to someone who works this market
These are La Plata 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 Plata every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in La Plata I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in La Plata?
A $405,000 home in La Plata, Maryland costs approximately $3,323 per month with 20% down at 7.32%. That is $2,226 principal and interest, $392 property tax, $101 homeowners insurance, $267 utilities and $338 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in La Plata?
La Plata has an effective property tax rate of 1.162%, based on a median home value of $405,200 and median real estate taxes of $4,708. That is higher than the Charles County average of 1.039%.
What is the average home price in La Plata?
The median owner-occupied home value in La Plata, Maryland is $405,200, against $402,300 across Charles County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in La Plata?
Median gross rent in La Plata is $1,483 a month, against $3,323 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 Plata?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in La Plata, Maryland at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $142,500 a year. That covers the full $3,323 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for La Plata, US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
- Homeowners insurance, NAIC average premium for Maryland.
- 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.