Cost to Own
United States › Wisconsin › Fond du Lac County › Ripon Population 7,803 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 $622 a month in taxes, insurance, utilities and upkeep. See the full Fond du Lac County picture

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in Ripon, Wisconsin

A $162,000 home here costs

$1,505

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 $64,500 a year.

P&I 59%Tax 17%Insurance 3%Utilities 13%Upkeep 9%

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $883. The real number is $622 higher every month, 70% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

Compare Fond du Lac County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown

Ripon median: $161,500
Under 20% adds PMI
Freddie Mac PMMS
WI 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, $129,600 borrowed $883
Property tax1.864% effective rate for Ripon itself $252
Homeowners insuranceWisconsin averages $780/yr (NAIC), or 0.309% of home value $42
Electricity19.41ยข/kWh, Wisconsin residential average, EIA $125
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $135
Total monthly $1,505

Ripon against Fond du Lac County and Wisconsin

MeasureRiponFond du Lac County
Median home value$161,500$209,800
Median property tax$3,011$3,311
Effective tax rate1.864%1.578%
Median gross rent$708$926
Population7,803104,053

The weather behind that power bill

Ripon sits in Fond du Lac County, which averages a high of 81.9°F in its hottest month and a low of 11.1°F in its coldest, with 28.39" of precipitation a year and 39% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 583 cooling and 7,275 heating degree days, which is what sets the $125 electricity line above.

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

Other cities in Fond du Lac County

Full Fond du Lac County cost breakdown · Every county in Wisconsin

Talk to someone who works this market

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

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

Common questions

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

A $162,000 home in Ripon, Wisconsin costs approximately $1,505 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $883 principal and interest, $252 property tax, $42 homeowners insurance, $193 utilities and $135 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in Ripon?

Ripon has an effective property tax rate of 1.864%, based on a median home value of $161,500 and median real estate taxes of $3,011. That is higher than the Fond du Lac County average of 1.578%.

What is the average home price in Ripon?

The median owner-occupied home value in Ripon, Wisconsin is $161,500, against $209,800 across Fond du Lac County.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Ripon?

Median gross rent in Ripon is $708 a month, against $1,505 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 Ripon?

Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Ripon, Wisconsin at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $64,500 a year. That covers the full $1,505 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.

Sources & methodology

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