Cost to Own
United StatesWisconsinFond du Lac CountyRipon Population 7,803 Data vintage ACS 2023 5-Year Rates updated 2026-07-30

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in Ripon, Wisconsin

A $162,000 home here costs

$1,507

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

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $833. The real number is $674 higher every month — 81% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

Ripon median: $161,500
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, $129,600 borrowed $833
Property tax1.864% effective rate for Ripon itself $252
Homeowners insuranceWisconsin averages $780/yr (NAIC), or 0.309% of home value $42
Electricity19.74¢/kWh — Wisconsin residential average, EIA $177
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $135
Total monthly $1,507

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 $177 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

Common questions

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

A $162,000 home in Ripon, Wisconsin costs approximately $1,507 per month with 20% down at 6.66%. That is $833 principal and interest, $252 property tax, $42 homeowners insurance, $245 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 $1,507 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 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