Cost to Own
United States › Pennsylvania › Berks County › Pennside Population 5,406 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 $849 a month in taxes, insurance, utilities and upkeep. See the full Berks County picture

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in Pennside, Pennsylvania

A $195,000 home here costs

$1,929

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 $82,500 a year.

P&I 56%Tax 19%Insurance 3%Utilities 13%Upkeep 8%

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,080. The real number is $849 higher every month, 79% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

Compare Berks County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown

Pennside median: $195,000
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, $156,000 borrowed $1,080
Property tax2.313% effective rate for Pennside itself $376
Homeowners insurancePennsylvania averages $1,014/yr (NAIC), or 0.401% of home value $65
Electricity21.72ยข/kWh, Pennsylvania residential average, EIA $177
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $163
Total monthly $1,929

Pennside against Berks County and Pennsylvania

MeasurePennsideBerks County
Median home value$195,000$239,700
Median property tax$4,510$4,238
Effective tax rate2.313%1.768%
Median gross rent$1,289$1,143
Population5,406429,989

The weather behind that power bill

Pennside sits in Berks County, which averages a high of 86.4°F in its hottest month and a low of 21.8°F in its coldest, with 47.36" of precipitation a year and 31% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 981 cooling and 5,293 heating degree days, which is what sets the $177 electricity line above.

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

Other cities in Berks County

Full Berks County cost breakdown · Every county in Pennsylvania

Talk to someone who works this market

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

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

Common questions

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

A $195,000 home in Pennside, Pennsylvania costs approximately $1,929 per month with 20% down at 7.4%. That is $1,080 principal and interest, $376 property tax, $65 homeowners insurance, $245 utilities and $163 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in Pennside?

Pennside has an effective property tax rate of 2.313%, based on a median home value of $195,000 and median real estate taxes of $4,510. That is higher than the Berks County average of 1.768%.

What is the average home price in Pennside?

The median owner-occupied home value in Pennside, Pennsylvania is $195,000, against $239,700 across Berks County.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Pennside?

Median gross rent in Pennside is $1,289 a month, against $1,929 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 Pennside?

Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Pennside, Pennsylvania at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $82,500 a year. That covers the full $1,929 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.

Sources & methodology

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