Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Marietta-Alderwood, Washington
A $493,000 home here costs
$3,697per 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 $158,500 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $2,688. The real number is $1,010 higher every month, 38% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Whatcom County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for Marietta-Alderwood from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 3,569 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 Whatcom 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.
Marietta-Alderwood against Whatcom County and Washington
| Measure | Marietta-Alderwood | Whatcom County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $493,200 | $536,100 |
| Median property tax | $3,815 | $3,819 |
| Effective tax rate | 0.774% | 0.712% |
| Median gross rent | $1,450 | $1,465 |
| Population | 3,569 | 228,432 |
The weather behind that power bill
Marietta-Alderwood sits in Whatcom County, which averages a high of 77.8°F in its hottest month and a low of 32.1°F in its coldest, with 83" of precipitation a year and 46% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 126 cooling and 5,664 heating degree days, which is what sets the $140 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Whatcom County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Whatcom County
Full Whatcom County cost breakdown · Every county in Washington
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Marietta-Alderwood 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 Marietta-Alderwood every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Marietta-Alderwood I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Marietta-Alderwood?
A $493,000 home in Marietta-Alderwood, Washington costs approximately $3,697 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $2,688 principal and interest, $318 property tax, $73 homeowners insurance, $208 utilities and $411 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Marietta-Alderwood?
Marietta-Alderwood has an effective property tax rate of 0.774%, based on a median home value of $493,200 and median real estate taxes of $3,815. That is higher than the Whatcom County average of 0.712%.
What is the average home price in Marietta-Alderwood?
The median owner-occupied home value in Marietta-Alderwood, Washington is $493,200, against $536,100 across Whatcom County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Marietta-Alderwood?
Median gross rent in Marietta-Alderwood is $1,450 a month, against $3,697 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 Marietta-Alderwood?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Marietta-Alderwood, Washington at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $158,500 a year. That covers the full $3,697 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Marietta-Alderwood, US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
- Homeowners insurance, NAIC average premium for Washington.
- 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.