Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Rochester, Washington
A $392,000 home here costs
$3,060per month, all in, with 20% down at today's 7.40% 30-year fixed rate. By the 28% rule that takes a household income of about $131,000 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $2,171. The real number is $888 higher every month, 41% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Thurston 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.
Rochester against Thurston County and Washington
| Measure | Rochester | Thurston County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $391,600 | $451,500 |
| Median property tax | $3,535 | $4,043 |
| Effective tax rate | 0.903% | 0.895% |
| Median gross rent | $1,182 | $1,634 |
| Population | 6,025 | 296,640 |
The weather behind that power bill
Rochester sits in Thurston County, which averages a high of 78.0°F in its hottest month and a low of 32.3°F in its coldest, with 50.62" of precipitation a year and 47% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 113 cooling and 5,378 heating degree days, which is what sets the $140 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Thurston County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Thurston County
Full Thurston County cost breakdown · Every county in Washington
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Rochester 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 Rochester every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Rochester I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Rochester?
A $392,000 home in Rochester, Washington costs approximately $3,060 per month with 20% down at 7.4%. That is $2,171 principal and interest, $295 property tax, $58 homeowners insurance, $208 utilities and $327 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Rochester?
Rochester has an effective property tax rate of 0.903%, based on a median home value of $391,600 and median real estate taxes of $3,535. That is in line with the Thurston County average of 0.895%.
What is the average home price in Rochester?
The median owner-occupied home value in Rochester, Washington is $391,600, against $451,500 across Thurston County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Rochester?
Median gross rent in Rochester is $1,182 a month, against $3,060 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 Rochester?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Rochester, Washington at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $131,000 a year. That covers the full $3,060 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Rochester, US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
- Homeowners insurance, NAIC average premium for Washington.
- 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.