Cost to Own
United StatesCaliforniaSacramento CountyNorth Highlands Population 47,900 Data vintage ACS 2023 5-Year Rates updated 2026-07-30

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in North Highlands, California

A $345,000 home here costs

$2,645

per month, all in — with 20% down at today's 6.66% 30-year fixed rate.

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,774. The real number is $872 higher every month — 49% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

North Highlands median: $344,900
Under 20% adds PMI
Freddie Mac PMMS
US 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, $276,000 borrowed $1,774
Property tax0.570% effective rate for North Highlands itself $164
Homeowners insuranceCalifornia averages $1,403/yr (NAIC), or 0.186% of home value $53
Electricity33.25¢/kWh — California residential average, EIA $299
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $288
Total monthly $2,645

North Highlands against Sacramento County and California

MeasureNorth HighlandsSacramento County
Median home value$344,900$498,900
Median property tax$1,965$3,768
Effective tax rate0.570%0.755%
Median gross rent$1,585$1,702
Population47,9001,584,047

The weather behind that power bill

North Highlands sits in Sacramento County, which averages a high of 94.4°F in its hottest month and a low of 40.7°F in its coldest, with 19.2" of precipitation a year and 57% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 1,576 cooling and 2,139 heating degree days, which is what sets the $299 electricity line above.

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

Other cities in Sacramento County

Full Sacramento County cost breakdown · Every county in California

Common questions

How much does it cost to own a home in North Highlands?

A $345,000 home in North Highlands, California costs approximately $2,645 per month with 20% down at 6.66%. That is $1,774 principal and interest, $164 property tax, $53 homeowners insurance, $367 utilities and $288 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in North Highlands?

North Highlands has an effective property tax rate of 0.570%, based on a median home value of $344,900 and median real estate taxes of $1,965. That is lower than the Sacramento County average of 0.755%.

What is the average home price in North Highlands?

The median owner-occupied home value in North Highlands, California is $344,900, against $498,900 across Sacramento County.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in North Highlands?

Median gross rent in North Highlands is $1,585 a month, against $2,645 to own the median home all in. Renting costs less month to month here, though renting builds no equity.

Sources & methodology

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