Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Palmdale, Pennsylvania
A $222,000 home here costs
$1,950per 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 $83,500 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,210. The real number is $739 higher every month, 61% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Dauphin County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for Palmdale from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 1,507 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 Dauphin County figures are drawn from a far larger sample if you want a steadier number.
Where every dollar goes
Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.
Palmdale against Dauphin County and Pennsylvania
| Measure | Palmdale | Dauphin County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $221,500 | $222,300 |
| Median property tax | $2,805 | $3,171 |
| Effective tax rate | 1.266% | 1.426% |
| Median gross rent | $1,385 | $1,153 |
| Population | 1,507 | 287,484 |
The weather behind that power bill
Palmdale sits in Dauphin County, which averages a high of 83.7°F in its hottest month and a low of 20.0°F in its coldest, with 50.85" of precipitation a year and 29% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 642 cooling and 5,860 heating degree days, which is what sets the $178 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Dauphin County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Dauphin County
Full Dauphin County cost breakdown · Every county in Pennsylvania
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Palmdale 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 Palmdale every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Palmdale I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Palmdale?
A $222,000 home in Palmdale, Pennsylvania costs approximately $1,950 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $1,210 principal and interest, $234 property tax, $74 homeowners insurance, $246 utilities and $185 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Palmdale?
Palmdale has an effective property tax rate of 1.266%, based on a median home value of $221,500 and median real estate taxes of $2,805. That is lower than the Dauphin County average of 1.426%.
What is the average home price in Palmdale?
The median owner-occupied home value in Palmdale, Pennsylvania is $221,500, against $222,300 across Dauphin County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Palmdale?
Median gross rent in Palmdale is $1,385 a month, against $1,950 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 Palmdale?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Palmdale, Pennsylvania at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $83,500 a year. That covers the full $1,950 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Palmdale, 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.