Cost to Own
United States › Ohio › Allen County › Lima Population 35,304 Data vintage ACS 2023 5-Year Rates updated 2026-10-29
The part nobody budgets Even with the mortgage fully paid off, the median home here still costs $441 a month in taxes, insurance, utilities and upkeep. See the full Allen County picture

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in Lima, Ohio

A $96,000 home here costs

$964

per 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 $41,500 a year.

P&I 54%Tax 10%Insurance 4%Utilities 24%Upkeep 8%

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $523. The real number is $441 higher every month, 84% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

Compare Allen County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown

Lima median: $95,900
Under 20% adds PMI
Freddie Mac PMMS
OH 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, $76,800 borrowed $523
Property tax1.167% effective rate for Lima itself $93
Homeowners insuranceOhio averages $920/yr (NAIC), or 0.446% of home value $36
Electricity19.38ยข/kWh, Ohio residential average, EIA $164
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $80
Total monthly $964

Lima against Allen County and Ohio

MeasureLimaAllen County
Median home value$95,900$158,400
Median property tax$1,119$1,782
Effective tax rate1.167%1.125%
Median gross rent$865$898
Population35,304101,685

The weather behind that power bill

Lima sits in Allen County, which averages a high of 83.6°F in its hottest month and a low of 20.1°F in its coldest, with 35.77" of precipitation a year and 32% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 847 cooling and 5,769 heating degree days, which is what sets the $164 electricity line above.

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

Other cities in Allen County

Full Allen County cost breakdown · Every county in Ohio

Talk to someone who works this market

These are Lima 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 Lima every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.

I'm looking to buy in Lima I already own here and may sell

Common questions

How much does it cost to own a home in Lima?

A $96,000 home in Lima, Ohio costs approximately $964 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $523 principal and interest, $93 property tax, $36 homeowners insurance, $232 utilities and $80 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in Lima?

Lima has an effective property tax rate of 1.167%, based on a median home value of $95,900 and median real estate taxes of $1,119. That is higher than the Allen County average of 1.125%.

What is the average home price in Lima?

The median owner-occupied home value in Lima, Ohio is $95,900, against $158,400 across Allen County.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Lima?

Median gross rent in Lima is $865 a month, against $964 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 Lima?

Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Lima, Ohio at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $41,500 a year. That covers the full $964 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.

Sources & methodology

  • Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Lima, US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
  • Homeowners insurance, NAIC average premium for Ohio.
  • 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