Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Seneca, Kansas
A $217,000 home here costs
$1,891per 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 $81,000 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,183. The real number is $708 higher every month, 60% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Nemaha County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for Seneca from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 2,139 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 Nemaha County figures are drawn from a far larger sample if you want a steadier number.
Where every dollar goes
Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.
Seneca against Nemaha County and Kansas
| Measure | Seneca | Nemaha County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $217,000 | $196,100 |
| Median property tax | $2,365 | $1,917 |
| Effective tax rate | 1.090% | 0.978% |
| Median gross rent | $607 | $726 |
| Population | 2,139 | 10,213 |
The weather behind that power bill
Seneca sits in Nemaha County, which averages a high of 89.1°F in its hottest month and a low of 17.1°F in its coldest, with 35.91" of precipitation a year and 42% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 1,304 cooling and 5,375 heating degree days, which is what sets the $136 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Nemaha County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Nemaha County
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Seneca 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 Seneca every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Seneca I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Seneca?
A $217,000 home in Seneca, Kansas costs approximately $1,891 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $1,183 principal and interest, $197 property tax, $127 homeowners insurance, $204 utilities and $181 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Seneca?
Seneca has an effective property tax rate of 1.090%, based on a median home value of $217,000 and median real estate taxes of $2,365. That is higher than the Nemaha County average of 0.978%.
What is the average home price in Seneca?
The median owner-occupied home value in Seneca, Kansas is $217,000, against $196,100 across Nemaha County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Seneca?
Median gross rent in Seneca is $607 a month, against $1,891 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 Seneca?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Seneca, Kansas at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $81,000 a year. That covers the full $1,891 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Seneca, US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
- Homeowners insurance, NAIC average premium for Kansas.
- 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.