Cost to Own
United States › Arkansas › White County › Searcy Population 23,115 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 $582 a month in taxes, insurance, utilities and upkeep. See the full White County picture

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in Searcy, Arkansas

A $176,000 home here costs

$1,542

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 $66,000 a year.

P&I 62%Tax 6%Insurance 9%Utilities 14%Upkeep 10%

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $960. The real number is $582 higher every month, 61% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

Compare White County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown

Searcy median: $176,200
Under 20% adds PMI
Freddie Mac PMMS
AR 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, $140,800 borrowed $960
Property tax0.585% effective rate for Searcy itself $86
Homeowners insuranceArkansas averages $1,611/yr (NAIC), or 0.896% of home value $131
Electricity14.37ยข/kWh, Arkansas residential average, EIA $151
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $147
Total monthly $1,542

Searcy against White County and Arkansas

MeasureSearcyWhite County
Median home value$176,200$159,600
Median property tax$1,031$761
Effective tax rate0.585%0.477%
Median gross rent$849$806
Population23,11577,395

The weather behind that power bill

Searcy sits in White County, which averages a high of 93.0°F in its hottest month and a low of 30.0°F in its coldest, with 51.84" of precipitation a year and 32% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 2,153 cooling and 3,287 heating degree days, which is what sets the $151 electricity line above.

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

Other cities in White County

Full White County cost breakdown · Every county in Arkansas

Talk to someone who works this market

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

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

Common questions

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

A $176,000 home in Searcy, Arkansas costs approximately $1,542 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $960 principal and interest, $86 property tax, $131 homeowners insurance, $219 utilities and $147 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in Searcy?

Searcy has an effective property tax rate of 0.585%, based on a median home value of $176,200 and median real estate taxes of $1,031. That is higher than the White County average of 0.477%.

What is the average home price in Searcy?

The median owner-occupied home value in Searcy, Arkansas is $176,200, against $159,600 across White County.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Searcy?

Median gross rent in Searcy is $849 a month, against $1,542 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 Searcy?

Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Searcy, Arkansas at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $66,000 a year. That covers the full $1,542 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.

Sources & methodology

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