Cost to Own
United States › Wisconsin › Dane County › Middleton Population 22,235 Data vintage ACS 2023 5-Year Rates updated 2026-10-15
The part nobody budgets Even with the mortgage fully paid off, the median home here still costs $1,292 a month in taxes, insurance, utilities and upkeep. See the full Dane County picture

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in Middleton, Wisconsin

A $457,000 home here costs

$3,824

per month, all in, with 20% down at today's 7.40% 30-year fixed rate. By the 28% rule that takes a household income of about $164,000 a year.

P&I 66%Tax 16%Insurance 3%Utilities 5%Upkeep 10%

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $2,531. The real number is $1,292 higher every month, 51% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

Compare Dane County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown

Middleton median: $457,400
Under 20% adds PMI
Freddie Mac PMMS
WI 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, $365,600 borrowed $2,531
Property tax1.583% effective rate for Middleton itself $603
Homeowners insuranceWisconsin averages $780/yr (NAIC), or 0.309% of home value $118
Electricity19.06ยข/kWh, Wisconsin residential average, EIA $123
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $381
Total monthly $3,824

Middleton against Dane County and Wisconsin

MeasureMiddletonDane County
Median home value$457,400$366,100
Median property tax$7,239$6,276
Effective tax rate1.583%1.714%
Median gross rent$1,357$1,345
Population22,235564,777

The weather behind that power bill

Middleton sits in Dane County, which averages a high of 82.2°F in its hottest month and a low of 11.1°F in its coldest, with 40.18" of precipitation a year and 37% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 640 cooling and 7,097 heating degree days, which is what sets the $123 electricity line above.

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

Other cities in Dane County

Full Dane County cost breakdown · Every county in Wisconsin

Talk to someone who works this market

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

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

Common questions

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

A $457,000 home in Middleton, Wisconsin costs approximately $3,824 per month with 20% down at 7.4%. That is $2,531 principal and interest, $603 property tax, $118 homeowners insurance, $191 utilities and $381 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in Middleton?

Middleton has an effective property tax rate of 1.583%, based on a median home value of $457,400 and median real estate taxes of $7,239. That is lower than the Dane County average of 1.714%.

What is the average home price in Middleton?

The median owner-occupied home value in Middleton, Wisconsin is $457,400, against $366,100 across Dane County.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Middleton?

Median gross rent in Middleton is $1,357 a month, against $3,824 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 Middleton?

Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Middleton, Wisconsin at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $164,000 a year. That covers the full $3,824 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.

Sources & methodology

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