Cost to Own
United States › Washington › Yakima County › Selah Population 8,301 Data vintage ACS 2023 5-Year Rates updated 2026-10-15
The part nobody budgets Even with the mortgage fully paid off, the median home here still costs $784 a month in taxes, insurance, utilities and upkeep. See the full Yakima County picture

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in Selah, Washington

A $366,000 home here costs

$2,811

per 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 $120,500 a year.

P&I 72%Tax 8%Insurance 2%Utilities 7%Upkeep 11%

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $2,027. The real number is $784 higher every month, 39% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

Compare Yakima County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown

Selah median: $366,100
Under 20% adds PMI
Freddie Mac PMMS
WA 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, $292,800 borrowed $2,027
Property tax0.709% effective rate for Selah itself $216
Homeowners insuranceWashington averages $1,001/yr (NAIC), or 0.178% of home value $54
Electricity14.71ยข/kWh, Washington residential average, EIA $140
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $305
Total monthly $2,811

Selah against Yakima County and Washington

MeasureSelahYakima County
Median home value$366,100$281,100
Median property tax$2,595$2,299
Effective tax rate0.709%0.818%
Median gross rent$1,465$1,068
Population8,301256,605

The weather behind that power bill

Selah sits in Yakima County, which averages a high of 89.9°F in its hottest month and a low of 23.1°F in its coldest, with 8.01" of precipitation a year and 44% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 606 cooling and 5,756 heating degree days, which is what sets the $140 electricity line above.

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

Other cities in Yakima County

Full Yakima County cost breakdown · Every county in Washington

Talk to someone who works this market

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

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

Common questions

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

A $366,000 home in Selah, Washington costs approximately $2,811 per month with 20% down at 7.4%. That is $2,027 principal and interest, $216 property tax, $54 homeowners insurance, $208 utilities and $305 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in Selah?

Selah has an effective property tax rate of 0.709%, based on a median home value of $366,100 and median real estate taxes of $2,595. That is lower than the Yakima County average of 0.818%.

What is the average home price in Selah?

The median owner-occupied home value in Selah, Washington is $366,100, against $281,100 across Yakima County.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Selah?

Median gross rent in Selah is $1,465 a month, against $2,811 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 Selah?

Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Selah, Washington at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $120,500 a year. That covers the full $2,811 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.

Sources & methodology

  • Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Selah, 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.

Full methodology