Cost to Own
United States › California › Butte County › Oroville Population 19,855 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 $712 a month in taxes, insurance, utilities and upkeep. See the full Butte County picture

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in Oroville, California

A $281,000 home here costs

$2,269

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 $97,000 a year.

P&I 69%Tax 9%Insurance 2%Utilities 10%Upkeep 10%

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,556. The real number is $712 higher every month, 46% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

Compare Butte County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown

Oroville median: $280,600
Under 20% adds PMI
Freddie Mac PMMS
CA 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, $224,800 borrowed $1,556
Property tax0.844% effective rate for Oroville itself $198
Homeowners insuranceCalifornia averages $1,403/yr (NAIC), or 0.186% of home value $44
Electricity33.61ยข/kWh, California residential average, EIA $169
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $234
Total monthly $2,269

Oroville against Butte County and California

MeasureOrovilleButte County
Median home value$280,600$408,700
Median property tax$2,367$2,819
Effective tax rate0.844%0.690%
Median gross rent$1,074$1,369
Population19,855209,470

The weather behind that power bill

Oroville sits in Butte County, which averages a high of 95.8°F in its hottest month and a low of 39.6°F in its coldest, with 25.67" of precipitation a year and 57% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 1,747 cooling and 2,394 heating degree days, which is what sets the $169 electricity line above.

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

Other cities in Butte County

Full Butte County cost breakdown · Every county in California

Talk to someone who works this market

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

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

Common questions

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

A $281,000 home in Oroville, California costs approximately $2,269 per month with 20% down at 7.4%. That is $1,556 principal and interest, $198 property tax, $44 homeowners insurance, $237 utilities and $234 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in Oroville?

Oroville has an effective property tax rate of 0.844%, based on a median home value of $280,600 and median real estate taxes of $2,367. That is higher than the Butte County average of 0.690%.

What is the average home price in Oroville?

The median owner-occupied home value in Oroville, California is $280,600, against $408,700 across Butte County.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Oroville?

Median gross rent in Oroville is $1,074 a month, against $2,269 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 Oroville?

Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Oroville, California at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $97,000 a year. That covers the full $2,269 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.

Sources & methodology

  • Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Oroville, 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