Cost to Own
United StatesPennsylvaniaLackawanna CountyOld Forge Population 8,533 Data vintage ACS 2023 5-Year Rates updated 2026-07-30

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in Old Forge, Pennsylvania

A $170,000 home here costs

$1,526

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

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $874. The real number is $652 higher every month — 75% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

Old Forge median: $169,700
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, $136,000 borrowed $874
Property tax1.355% effective rate for Old Forge itself $192
Homeowners insurancePennsylvania averages $1,014/yr (NAIC), or 0.401% of home value $57
Electricity21.55¢/kWh — Pennsylvania residential average, EIA $194
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $142
Total monthly $1,526

Old Forge against Lackawanna County and Pennsylvania

MeasureOld ForgeLackawanna County
Median home value$169,700$189,900
Median property tax$2,300$2,910
Effective tax rate1.355%1.532%
Median gross rent$862$973
Population8,533215,834

The weather behind that power bill

Old Forge sits in Lackawanna County, which averages a high of 84.6°F in its hottest month and a low of 20.3°F in its coldest, with 38.72" of precipitation a year and 30% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 791 cooling and 5,740 heating degree days, which is what sets the $194 electricity line above.

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

Other cities in Lackawanna County

Full Lackawanna County cost breakdown · Every county in Pennsylvania

Common questions

How much does it cost to own a home in Old Forge?

A $170,000 home in Old Forge, Pennsylvania costs approximately $1,526 per month with 20% down at 6.66%. That is $874 principal and interest, $192 property tax, $57 homeowners insurance, $262 utilities and $142 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in Old Forge?

Old Forge has an effective property tax rate of 1.355%, based on a median home value of $169,700 and median real estate taxes of $2,300. That is lower than the Lackawanna County average of 1.532%.

What is the average home price in Old Forge?

The median owner-occupied home value in Old Forge, Pennsylvania is $169,700, against $189,900 across Lackawanna County.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Old Forge?

Median gross rent in Old Forge is $862 a month, against $1,526 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 Old Forge — US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
  • Homeowners insurance — NAIC average premium for Pennsylvania.
  • 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