Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Lawson Heights, Pennsylvania
A $170,000 home here costs
$1,584per 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 $68,000 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $927. The real number is $657 higher every month, 71% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Westmoreland County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for Lawson Heights from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 2,552 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 Westmoreland 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.
Lawson Heights against Westmoreland County and Pennsylvania
| Measure | Lawson Heights | Westmoreland County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $169,500 | $193,100 |
| Median property tax | $2,546 | $2,473 |
| Effective tax rate | 1.502% | 1.281% |
| Median gross rent | $1,035 | $843 |
| Population | 2,552 | 353,345 |
The weather behind that power bill
Lawson Heights sits in Westmoreland County, which averages a high of 82.1°F in its hottest month and a low of 20.7°F in its coldest, with 43.94" of precipitation a year and 31% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 587 cooling and 5,855 heating degree days, which is what sets the $178 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Westmoreland County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Westmoreland County
Full Westmoreland County cost breakdown · Every county in Pennsylvania
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Lawson Heights 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 Lawson Heights every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Lawson Heights I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Lawson Heights?
A $170,000 home in Lawson Heights, Pennsylvania costs approximately $1,584 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $927 principal and interest, $213 property tax, $57 homeowners insurance, $246 utilities and $142 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Lawson Heights?
Lawson Heights has an effective property tax rate of 1.502%, based on a median home value of $169,500 and median real estate taxes of $2,546. That is higher than the Westmoreland County average of 1.281%.
What is the average home price in Lawson Heights?
The median owner-occupied home value in Lawson Heights, Pennsylvania is $169,500, against $193,100 across Westmoreland County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Lawson Heights?
Median gross rent in Lawson Heights is $1,035 a month, against $1,584 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 Lawson Heights?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Lawson Heights, Pennsylvania at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $68,000 a year. That covers the full $1,584 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Lawson Heights, US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
- Homeowners insurance, NAIC average premium for Pennsylvania.
- 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.