Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Lake Royale, North Carolina
A $263,000 home here costs
$2,107per 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 $90,500 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,434. The real number is $673 higher every month, 47% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Franklin County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for Lake Royale from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 2,959 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 Franklin 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.
Lake Royale against Franklin County and North Carolina
| Measure | Lake Royale | Franklin County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $263,000 | $240,900 |
| Median property tax | $1,664 | $1,732 |
| Effective tax rate | 0.633% | 0.719% |
| Median gross rent | $1,144 | $988 |
| Population | 2,959 | 71,962 |
The weather behind that power bill
Lake Royale sits in Franklin County, which averages a high of 90.2°F in its hottest month and a low of 27.5°F in its coldest, with 48.29" of precipitation a year and 32% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 1,545 cooling and 3,647 heating degree days, which is what sets the $152 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Franklin County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Franklin County
Full Franklin County cost breakdown · Every county in North Carolina
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Lake Royale 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 Lake Royale every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Lake Royale I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Lake Royale?
A $263,000 home in Lake Royale, North Carolina costs approximately $2,107 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $1,434 principal and interest, $139 property tax, $95 homeowners insurance, $220 utilities and $219 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Lake Royale?
Lake Royale has an effective property tax rate of 0.633%, based on a median home value of $263,000 and median real estate taxes of $1,664. That is lower than the Franklin County average of 0.719%.
What is the average home price in Lake Royale?
The median owner-occupied home value in Lake Royale, North Carolina is $263,000, against $240,900 across Franklin County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Lake Royale?
Median gross rent in Lake Royale is $1,144 a month, against $2,107 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 Lake Royale?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Lake Royale, North Carolina at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $90,500 a year. That covers the full $2,107 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Lake Royale, US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
- Homeowners insurance, NAIC average premium for North Carolina.
- 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.