Cost to Own
United States › North Carolina › Beaufort County › River Road Population 3,518 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 $556 a month in taxes, insurance, utilities and upkeep. See the full Beaufort County picture

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in River Road, North Carolina

A $188,000 home here costs

$1,581

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 $68,000 a year.

P&I 65%Tax 7%Insurance 4%Utilities 14%Upkeep 10%

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,025. The real number is $556 higher every month, 54% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

Compare Beaufort County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown

Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for River Road from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 3,518 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 Beaufort County figures are drawn from a far larger sample if you want a steadier number.

River Road median: $187,700
Under 20% adds PMI
Freddie Mac PMMS
NC 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, $150,400 borrowed $1,025
Property tax0.712% effective rate for River Road itself $112
Homeowners insuranceNorth Carolina averages $1,192/yr (NAIC), or 0.435% of home value $68
Electricity14.95ยข/kWh, North Carolina residential average, EIA $152
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $157
Total monthly $1,581

River Road against Beaufort County and North Carolina

MeasureRiver RoadBeaufort County
Median home value$187,700$181,200
Median property tax$1,337$1,277
Effective tax rate0.712%0.705%
Median gross rent$787$859
Population3,51844,597

The weather behind that power bill

River Road sits in Beaufort County, which averages a high of 88.9°F in its hottest month and a low of 36.2°F in its coldest, with 51.56" of precipitation a year and 33% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 2,026 cooling and 2,596 heating degree days, which is what sets the $152 electricity line above.

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

Other cities in Beaufort County

Full Beaufort County cost breakdown · Every county in North Carolina

Talk to someone who works this market

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

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

Common questions

How much does it cost to own a home in River Road?

A $188,000 home in River Road, North Carolina costs approximately $1,581 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $1,025 principal and interest, $112 property tax, $68 homeowners insurance, $220 utilities and $157 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in River Road?

River Road has an effective property tax rate of 0.712%, based on a median home value of $187,700 and median real estate taxes of $1,337. That is in line with the Beaufort County average of 0.705%.

What is the average home price in River Road?

The median owner-occupied home value in River Road, North Carolina is $187,700, against $181,200 across Beaufort County.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in River Road?

Median gross rent in River Road is $787 a month, against $1,581 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 Road?

Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in River Road, North Carolina at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $68,000 a year. That covers the full $1,581 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.

Sources & methodology

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