Cost to Own
United States › New York › Tioga County › Owego Population 3,823 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 $734 a month in taxes, insurance, utilities and upkeep. See the full Tioga County picture

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in Owego, New York

A $143,000 home here costs

$1,514

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 $65,000 a year.

P&I 51%Tax 23%Insurance 2%Utilities 15%Upkeep 8%

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $780. The real number is $734 higher every month, 94% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

Compare Tioga County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown

Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for Owego from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 3,823 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 Tioga County figures are drawn from a far larger sample if you want a steadier number.

Owego median: $143,000
Under 20% adds PMI
Freddie Mac PMMS
NY 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, $114,400 borrowed $780
Property tax2.955% effective rate for Owego itself $352
Homeowners insuranceNew York averages $1,455/yr (NAIC), or 0.264% of home value $31
Electricity28.65ยข/kWh, New York residential average, EIA $164
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $119
Total monthly $1,514

Owego against Tioga County and New York

MeasureOwegoTioga County
Median home value$143,000$153,200
Median property tax$4,225$3,750
Effective tax rate2.955%2.448%
Median gross rent$918$914
Population3,82348,106

The weather behind that power bill

Owego sits in Tioga County, which averages a high of 78.4°F in its hottest month and a low of 15.5°F in its coldest, with 42.04" of precipitation a year and 30% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 383 cooling and 7,162 heating degree days, which is what sets the $164 electricity line above.

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

Other cities in Tioga County

Full Tioga County cost breakdown · Every county in New York

Talk to someone who works this market

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

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

Common questions

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

A $143,000 home in Owego, New York costs approximately $1,514 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $780 principal and interest, $352 property tax, $31 homeowners insurance, $232 utilities and $119 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in Owego?

Owego has an effective property tax rate of 2.955%, based on a median home value of $143,000 and median real estate taxes of $4,225. That is higher than the Tioga County average of 2.448%.

What is the average home price in Owego?

The median owner-occupied home value in Owego, New York is $143,000, against $153,200 across Tioga County.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Owego?

Median gross rent in Owego is $918 a month, against $1,514 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 Owego?

Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Owego, New York at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $65,000 a year. That covers the full $1,514 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.

Sources & methodology

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