Cost to Own
United StatesFloridaGulf CountyPort St. Joe Population 3,499 Data vintage ACS 2023 5-Year Rates updated 2026-07-30

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in Port St. Joe, Florida

A $281,000 home here costs

$2,188

per month, all in — with 20% down at today's 6.66% 30-year fixed rate.

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,445. The real number is $744 higher every month — 51% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

Port St. Joe median: $280,600
Under 20% adds PMI
Freddie Mac PMMS
US 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, $224,800 borrowed $1,445
Property tax0.578% effective rate for Port St. Joe itself $135
Homeowners insuranceFlorida averages $2,437/yr (NAIC), or 0.725% of home value $170
Electricity15.17¢/kWh — Florida residential average, EIA $136
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $234
Total monthly $2,188

Port St. Joe against Gulf County and Florida

MeasurePort St. JoeGulf County
Median home value$280,600$235,700
Median property tax$1,622$1,334
Effective tax rate0.578%0.566%
Median gross rent$1,342$1,161
Population3,49914,772

The weather behind that power bill

Port St. Joe sits in Gulf County, which averages a high of 89.7°F in its hottest month and a low of 44.4°F in its coldest, with 53.08" of precipitation a year and 37% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 2,738 cooling and 1,224 heating degree days, which is what sets the $136 electricity line above.

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

Other cities in Gulf County

Full Gulf County cost breakdown · Every county in Florida

Common questions

How much does it cost to own a home in Port St. Joe?

A $281,000 home in Port St. Joe, Florida costs approximately $2,188 per month with 20% down at 6.66%. That is $1,445 principal and interest, $135 property tax, $170 homeowners insurance, $204 utilities and $234 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in Port St. Joe?

Port St. Joe has an effective property tax rate of 0.578%, based on a median home value of $280,600 and median real estate taxes of $1,622. That is higher than the Gulf County average of 0.566%.

What is the average home price in Port St. Joe?

The median owner-occupied home value in Port St. Joe, Florida is $280,600, against $235,700 across Gulf County.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Port St. Joe?

Median gross rent in Port St. Joe is $1,342 a month, against $2,188 to own the median home all in. Renting costs less month to month here, though renting builds no equity.

Sources & methodology

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