Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Port St. Joe, Florida
A $281,000 home here costs
$2,305per 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 $99,000 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,532. The real number is $773 higher every month, 50% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Gulf County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for Port St. Joe from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 3,499 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 Gulf 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.
Port St. Joe against Gulf County and Florida
| Measure | Port St. Joe | Gulf County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $280,600 | $235,700 |
| Median property tax | $1,622 | $1,334 |
| Effective tax rate | 0.578% | 0.566% |
| Median gross rent | $1,342 | $1,161 |
| Population | 3,499 | 14,772 |
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 $165 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
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Port St. Joe 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 St. Joe every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Port St. Joe I already own here and may sell
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 $2,305 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $1,532 principal and interest, $135 property tax, $170 homeowners insurance, $233 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 $2,305 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 St. Joe?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Port St. Joe, Florida at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $99,000 a year. That covers the full $2,305 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
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.