Cost to Own
United States › Ohio › Ottawa County › Port Clinton Population 5,999 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 $513 a month in taxes, insurance, utilities and upkeep. See the full Ottawa County picture

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in Port Clinton, Ohio

A $142,000 home here costs

$1,287

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 $55,000 a year.

P&I 60%Tax 9%Insurance 4%Utilities 18%Upkeep 9%

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $774. The real number is $513 higher every month, 66% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

Compare Ottawa County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown

Port Clinton median: $142,100
Under 20% adds PMI
Freddie Mac PMMS
OH 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, $113,600 borrowed $774
Property tax0.928% effective rate for Port Clinton itself $110
Homeowners insuranceOhio averages $920/yr (NAIC), or 0.446% of home value $53
Electricity19.38ยข/kWh, Ohio residential average, EIA $164
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $118
Total monthly $1,287

Port Clinton against Ottawa County and Ohio

MeasurePort ClintonOttawa County
Median home value$142,100$200,700
Median property tax$1,318$2,181
Effective tax rate0.928%1.087%
Median gross rent$882$909
Population5,99940,161

The weather behind that power bill

Port Clinton sits in Ottawa County, which averages a high of 82.3°F in its hottest month and a low of 21.8°F in its coldest, with 34.03" of precipitation a year and 31% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 953 cooling and 5,653 heating degree days, which is what sets the $164 electricity line above.

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

Other cities in Ottawa County

Full Ottawa County cost breakdown · Every county in Ohio

Talk to someone who works this market

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

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

Common questions

How much does it cost to own a home in Port Clinton?

A $142,000 home in Port Clinton, Ohio costs approximately $1,287 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $774 principal and interest, $110 property tax, $53 homeowners insurance, $232 utilities and $118 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in Port Clinton?

Port Clinton has an effective property tax rate of 0.928%, based on a median home value of $142,100 and median real estate taxes of $1,318. That is lower than the Ottawa County average of 1.087%.

What is the average home price in Port Clinton?

The median owner-occupied home value in Port Clinton, Ohio is $142,100, against $200,700 across Ottawa County.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Port Clinton?

Median gross rent in Port Clinton is $882 a month, against $1,287 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 Port Clinton?

Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Port Clinton, Ohio at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $55,000 a year. That covers the full $1,287 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.

Sources & methodology

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