Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Mountlake Terrace, Washington
A $606,000 home here costs
$4,528per 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 $194,000 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $3,357. The real number is $1,171 higher every month, 35% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Snohomish County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Where every dollar goes
Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.
Mountlake Terrace against Snohomish County and Washington
| Measure | Mountlake Terrace | Snohomish County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $606,100 | $644,600 |
| Median property tax | $4,415 | $5,121 |
| Effective tax rate | 0.728% | 0.794% |
| Median gross rent | $1,966 | $1,866 |
| Population | 21,419 | 834,648 |
The weather behind that power bill
Mountlake Terrace sits in Snohomish County, which averages a high of 73.0°F in its hottest month and a low of 36.0°F in its coldest, with 33.37" of precipitation a year and 40% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 97 cooling and 5,039 heating degree days, which is what sets the $140 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Snohomish County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Snohomish County
Full Snohomish County cost breakdown · Every county in Washington
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Mountlake Terrace 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 Mountlake Terrace every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Mountlake Terrace I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Mountlake Terrace?
A $606,000 home in Mountlake Terrace, Washington costs approximately $4,528 per month with 20% down at 7.4%. That is $3,357 principal and interest, $368 property tax, $90 homeowners insurance, $208 utilities and $505 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Mountlake Terrace?
Mountlake Terrace has an effective property tax rate of 0.728%, based on a median home value of $606,100 and median real estate taxes of $4,415. That is lower than the Snohomish County average of 0.794%.
What is the average home price in Mountlake Terrace?
The median owner-occupied home value in Mountlake Terrace, Washington is $606,100, against $644,600 across Snohomish County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Mountlake Terrace?
Median gross rent in Mountlake Terrace is $1,966 a month, against $4,528 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 Mountlake Terrace?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Mountlake Terrace, Washington at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $194,000 a year. That covers the full $4,528 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Mountlake Terrace, 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.