Cost to Own
United States › Minnesota › Blue Earth County › Mankato Population 44,882 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 $717 a month in taxes, insurance, utilities and upkeep. See the full Blue Earth County picture

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in Mankato, Minnesota

A $251,000 home here costs

$2,086

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 $89,500 a year.

P&I 66%Tax 10%Insurance 5%Utilities 9%Upkeep 10%

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,368. The real number is $717 higher every month, 52% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

Compare Blue Earth County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown

Mankato median: $250,600
Under 20% adds PMI
Freddie Mac PMMS
MN 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, $200,800 borrowed $1,368
Property tax0.998% effective rate for Mankato itself $209
Homeowners insuranceMinnesota averages $1,607/yr (NAIC), or 0.521% of home value $109
Electricity17.2ยข/kWh, Minnesota residential average, EIA $122
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $209
Total monthly $2,086

Mankato against Blue Earth County and Minnesota

MeasureMankatoBlue Earth County
Median home value$250,600$252,800
Median property tax$2,500$2,487
Effective tax rate0.998%0.984%
Median gross rent$1,089$1,076
Population44,88269,386

Mankato extends across 3 counties. Figures here use Blue Earth County, where most of its housing sits.

The weather behind that power bill

Mankato sits in Blue Earth County, which averages a high of 81.9°F in its hottest month and a low of 5.7°F in its coldest, with 33.88" of precipitation a year and 42% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 632 cooling and 7,789 heating degree days, which is what sets the $122 electricity line above.

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

Other cities in Blue Earth County

Full Blue Earth County cost breakdown · Every county in Minnesota

Talk to someone who works this market

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

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

Common questions

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

A $251,000 home in Mankato, Minnesota costs approximately $2,086 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $1,368 principal and interest, $209 property tax, $109 homeowners insurance, $190 utilities and $209 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in Mankato?

Mankato has an effective property tax rate of 0.998%, based on a median home value of $250,600 and median real estate taxes of $2,500. That is higher than the Blue Earth County average of 0.984%.

What is the average home price in Mankato?

The median owner-occupied home value in Mankato, Minnesota is $250,600, against $252,800 across Blue Earth County.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Mankato?

Median gross rent in Mankato is $1,089 a month, against $2,086 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 Mankato?

Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Mankato, Minnesota at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $89,500 a year. That covers the full $2,086 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.

Sources & methodology

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