Cost to Own
United States › Pennsylvania › Monroe County › Penn Estates Population 3,691 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 $896 a month in taxes, insurance, utilities and upkeep. See the full Monroe County picture

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in Penn Estates, Pennsylvania

A $233,000 home here costs

$2,167

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 $93,000 a year.

P&I 59%Tax 17%Insurance 4%Utilities 11%Upkeep 9%

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,270. The real number is $896 higher every month, 71% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

Compare Monroe County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown

Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for Penn Estates from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 3,691 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 Monroe County figures are drawn from a far larger sample if you want a steadier number.

Penn Estates median: $233,200
Under 20% adds PMI
Freddie Mac PMMS
PA 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, $186,400 borrowed $1,270
Property tax1.949% effective rate for Penn Estates itself $378
Homeowners insurancePennsylvania averages $1,014/yr (NAIC), or 0.401% of home value $78
Electricity21.77ยข/kWh, Pennsylvania residential average, EIA $178
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $194
Total monthly $2,167

Penn Estates against Monroe County and Pennsylvania

MeasurePenn EstatesMonroe County
Median home value$233,200$241,200
Median property tax$4,544$4,435
Effective tax rate1.949%1.839%
Median gross rent$2,188$1,347
Population3,691167,784

The weather behind that power bill

Penn Estates sits in Monroe County, which averages a high of 77.7°F in its hottest month and a low of 15.1°F in its coldest, with 50.22" of precipitation a year and 31% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 289 cooling and 7,247 heating degree days, which is what sets the $178 electricity line above.

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

Other cities in Monroe County

Full Monroe County cost breakdown · Every county in Pennsylvania

Talk to someone who works this market

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

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

Common questions

How much does it cost to own a home in Penn Estates?

A $233,000 home in Penn Estates, Pennsylvania costs approximately $2,167 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $1,270 principal and interest, $378 property tax, $78 homeowners insurance, $246 utilities and $194 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in Penn Estates?

Penn Estates has an effective property tax rate of 1.949%, based on a median home value of $233,200 and median real estate taxes of $4,544. That is higher than the Monroe County average of 1.839%.

What is the average home price in Penn Estates?

The median owner-occupied home value in Penn Estates, Pennsylvania is $233,200, against $241,200 across Monroe County.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Penn Estates?

Median gross rent in Penn Estates is $2,188 a month, against $2,167 to own the median home all in. Owning costs less month to month here, though renting builds no equity.

What salary do you need to buy a home in Penn Estates?

Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Penn Estates, Pennsylvania at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $93,000 a year. That covers the full $2,167 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.

Sources & methodology

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