Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Plains, Kansas
A $128,000 home here costs
$1,221per 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 $52,500 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $698. The real number is $524 higher every month, 75% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Meade County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for Plains from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 1,308 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 Meade 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.
Plains against Meade County and Kansas
| Measure | Plains | Meade County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $127,700 | $122,000 |
| Median property tax | $1,661 | $1,858 |
| Effective tax rate | 1.301% | 1.523% |
| Median gross rent | $785 | $799 |
| Population | 1,308 | 3,949 |
The weather behind that power bill
Plains sits in Meade County, which averages a high of 94.4°F in its hottest month and a low of 18.6°F in its coldest, with 23.04" of precipitation a year and 43% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 1,474 cooling and 4,924 heating degree days, which is what sets the $136 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Meade County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Meade County
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Plains 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 Plains every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Plains I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Plains?
A $128,000 home in Plains, Kansas costs approximately $1,221 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $698 principal and interest, $139 property tax, $75 homeowners insurance, $204 utilities and $107 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Plains?
Plains has an effective property tax rate of 1.301%, based on a median home value of $127,700 and median real estate taxes of $1,661. That is lower than the Meade County average of 1.523%.
What is the average home price in Plains?
The median owner-occupied home value in Plains, Kansas is $127,700, against $122,000 across Meade County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Plains?
Median gross rent in Plains is $785 a month, against $1,221 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 Plains?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Plains, Kansas at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $52,500 a year. That covers the full $1,221 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Plains, US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
- Homeowners insurance, NAIC average premium for Kansas.
- 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.