Cost to Own
United StatesPennsylvaniaLuzerne CountyLuzerne Population 2,720 Data vintage ACS 2023 5-Year Rates updated 2026-07-30

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in Luzerne, Pennsylvania

A $114,000 home here costs

$1,126

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

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $586. The real number is $540 higher every month — 92% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

Luzerne median: $113,700
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, $91,200 borrowed $586
Property tax1.529% effective rate for Luzerne itself $145
Homeowners insurancePennsylvania averages $1,014/yr (NAIC), or 0.401% of home value $38
Electricity21.55¢/kWh — Pennsylvania residential average, EIA $194
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $95
Total monthly $1,126

Luzerne against Luzerne County and Pennsylvania

MeasureLuzerneLuzerne County
Median home value$113,700$163,800
Median property tax$1,738$2,506
Effective tax rate1.529%1.530%
Median gross rent$758$958
Population2,720325,978

The weather behind that power bill

Luzerne sits in Luzerne County, which averages a high of 84.6°F in its hottest month and a low of 20.3°F in its coldest, with 38.72" of precipitation a year and 30% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 791 cooling and 5,740 heating degree days, which is what sets the $194 electricity line above.

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

Other cities in Luzerne County

Full Luzerne County cost breakdown · Every county in Pennsylvania

Common questions

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

A $114,000 home in Luzerne, Pennsylvania costs approximately $1,126 per month with 20% down at 6.66%. That is $586 principal and interest, $145 property tax, $38 homeowners insurance, $262 utilities and $95 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in Luzerne?

Luzerne has an effective property tax rate of 1.529%, based on a median home value of $113,700 and median real estate taxes of $1,738. That is in line with the Luzerne County average of 1.530%.

What is the average home price in Luzerne?

The median owner-occupied home value in Luzerne, Pennsylvania is $113,700, against $163,800 across Luzerne County.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Luzerne?

Median gross rent in Luzerne is $758 a month, against $1,126 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 Luzerne — 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.

Full methodology