Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in River Falls, Wisconsin
A $300,000 home here costs
$2,539per 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 $109,000 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,636. The real number is $904 higher every month, 55% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare St. Croix County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Where every dollar goes
Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.
River Falls against St. Croix County and Wisconsin
| Measure | River Falls | St. Croix County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $299,800 | $349,700 |
| Median property tax | $4,596 | $4,297 |
| Effective tax rate | 1.533% | 1.229% |
| Median gross rent | $1,050 | $1,238 |
| Population | 16,349 | 94,819 |
River Falls extends across 2 counties. Figures here use St. Croix County, where most of its housing sits.
The weather behind that power bill
River Falls sits in St. Croix County, which averages a high of 79.3°F in its hottest month and a low of 1.8°F in its coldest, with 32.97" of precipitation a year and 43% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 401 cooling and 8,528 heating degree days, which is what sets the $125 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for St. Croix County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in St. Croix County
Full St. Croix County cost breakdown · Every county in Wisconsin
Talk to someone who works this market
These are River Falls 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 River Falls every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in River Falls I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in River Falls?
A $300,000 home in River Falls, Wisconsin costs approximately $2,539 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $1,636 principal and interest, $383 property tax, $77 homeowners insurance, $193 utilities and $250 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in River Falls?
River Falls has an effective property tax rate of 1.533%, based on a median home value of $299,800 and median real estate taxes of $4,596. That is higher than the St. Croix County average of 1.229%.
What is the average home price in River Falls?
The median owner-occupied home value in River Falls, Wisconsin is $299,800, against $349,700 across St. Croix County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in River Falls?
Median gross rent in River Falls is $1,050 a month, against $2,539 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 River Falls?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in River Falls, Wisconsin at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $109,000 a year. That covers the full $2,539 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for River Falls, 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.