Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Smith River, California
A $346,000 home here costs
$2,580per 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 $110,500 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,886. The real number is $694 higher every month, 37% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Del Norte County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for Smith River from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 1,270 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 Del Norte 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.
Smith River against Del Norte County and California
| Measure | Smith River | Del Norte County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $345,800 | $319,600 |
| Median property tax | $1,613 | $1,872 |
| Effective tax rate | 0.466% | 0.586% |
| Median gross rent | — | $1,182 |
| Population | 1,270 | 27,293 |
The weather behind that power bill
Smith River sits in Del Norte County, which averages a high of 64.5°F in its hottest month and a low of 41.4°F in its coldest, with 57.98" of precipitation a year and 49% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 4 cooling and 4,423 heating degree days, which is what sets the $150 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Del Norte County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Del Norte County
Full Del Norte County cost breakdown · Every county in California
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Smith River 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 Smith River every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Smith River I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Smith River?
A $346,000 home in Smith River, California costs approximately $2,580 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $1,886 principal and interest, $134 property tax, $54 homeowners insurance, $218 utilities and $288 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Smith River?
Smith River has an effective property tax rate of 0.466%, based on a median home value of $345,800 and median real estate taxes of $1,613. That is lower than the Del Norte County average of 0.586%.
What is the average home price in Smith River?
The median owner-occupied home value in Smith River, California is $345,800, against $319,600 across Del Norte County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Smith River?
Rent data is not published for Smith River at this level of detail.
What salary do you need to buy a home in Smith River?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Smith River, California at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $110,500 a year. That covers the full $2,580 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Smith River, US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
- Homeowners insurance, NAIC average premium for California.
- 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.