Cost to Own
United States › Idaho › Bear Lake County › Montpelier Population 2,681 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 $484 a month in taxes, insurance, utilities and upkeep. See the full Bear Lake County picture

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in Montpelier, Idaho

A $186,000 home here costs

$1,498

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 $64,000 a year.

P&I 68%Tax 7%Insurance 2%Utilities 13%Upkeep 10%

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,014. The real number is $484 higher every month, 48% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

Compare Bear Lake County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown

Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for Montpelier from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 2,681 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 Bear Lake County figures are drawn from a far larger sample if you want a steadier number.

Montpelier median: $185,600
Under 20% adds PMI
Freddie Mac PMMS
ID 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, $148,800 borrowed $1,014
Property tax0.634% effective rate for Montpelier itself $98
Homeowners insuranceIdaho averages $884/yr (NAIC), or 0.233% of home value $36
Electricity13.37ยข/kWh, Idaho residential average, EIA $126
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $155
Total monthly $1,498

Montpelier against Bear Lake County and Idaho

MeasureMontpelierBear Lake County
Median home value$185,600$234,200
Median property tax$1,176$1,061
Effective tax rate0.634%0.453%
Median gross rent$639$687
Population2,6816,552

The weather behind that power bill

Montpelier sits in Bear Lake County, which averages a high of 84.6°F in its hottest month and a low of 6.7°F in its coldest, with 17.89" of precipitation a year and 31% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 139 cooling and 8,825 heating degree days, which is what sets the $126 electricity line above.

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

Other cities in Bear Lake County

No other places of this size are published in Bear Lake County.

Full Bear Lake County cost breakdown · Every county in Idaho

Talk to someone who works this market

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

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

Common questions

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

A $186,000 home in Montpelier, Idaho costs approximately $1,498 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $1,014 principal and interest, $98 property tax, $36 homeowners insurance, $194 utilities and $155 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in Montpelier?

Montpelier has an effective property tax rate of 0.634%, based on a median home value of $185,600 and median real estate taxes of $1,176. That is higher than the Bear Lake County average of 0.453%.

What is the average home price in Montpelier?

The median owner-occupied home value in Montpelier, Idaho is $185,600, against $234,200 across Bear Lake County.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Montpelier?

Median gross rent in Montpelier is $639 a month, against $1,498 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 Montpelier?

Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Montpelier, Idaho at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $64,000 a year. That covers the full $1,498 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.

Sources & methodology

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