Cost to Own
United StatesCaliforniaMarin CountyLagunitas-Forest Knolls Population 1,795 Data vintage ACS 2023 5-Year Rates updated 2026-07-30

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in Lagunitas-Forest Knolls, California

A $922,000 home here costs

$6,548

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

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $4,740. The real number is $1,808 higher every month — 38% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

Lagunitas-Forest Knolls median: $922,400
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, $737,600 borrowed $4,740
Property tax0.690% effective rate for Lagunitas-Forest Knolls itself $530
Homeowners insuranceCalifornia averages $1,403/yr (NAIC), or 0.186% of home value $143
Electricity33.25¢/kWh — California residential average, EIA $299
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $768
Total monthly $6,548

Lagunitas-Forest Knolls against Marin County and California

MeasureLagunitas-Forest KnollsMarin County
Median home value$922,400$1,390,000
Median property tax$6,368$10,001
Effective tax rate0.690%0.719%
Median gross rent$3,200$2,584
Population1,795258,765

The weather behind that power bill

Lagunitas-Forest Knolls sits in Marin County, which averages a high of 81.3°F in its hottest month and a low of 42.1°F in its coldest, with 34.45" of precipitation a year and 64% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 486 cooling and 2,481 heating degree days, which is what sets the $299 electricity line above.

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

Other cities in Marin County

Full Marin County cost breakdown · Every county in California

Common questions

How much does it cost to own a home in Lagunitas-Forest Knolls?

A $922,000 home in Lagunitas-Forest Knolls, California costs approximately $6,548 per month with 20% down at 6.66%. That is $4,740 principal and interest, $530 property tax, $143 homeowners insurance, $367 utilities and $768 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in Lagunitas-Forest Knolls?

Lagunitas-Forest Knolls has an effective property tax rate of 0.690%, based on a median home value of $922,400 and median real estate taxes of $6,368. That is lower than the Marin County average of 0.719%.

What is the average home price in Lagunitas-Forest Knolls?

The median owner-occupied home value in Lagunitas-Forest Knolls, California is $922,400, against $1,390,000 across Marin County.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Lagunitas-Forest Knolls?

Median gross rent in Lagunitas-Forest Knolls is $3,200 a month, against $6,548 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 Lagunitas-Forest Knolls — US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
  • Homeowners insurance — NAIC average premium for California.
  • 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