Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in South Dos Palos, California
A $278,000 home here costs
$2,110per 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 $90,500 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,516. The real number is $594 higher every month, 39% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Merced County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for South Dos Palos from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 1,637 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 Merced 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.
South Dos Palos against Merced County and California
| Measure | South Dos Palos | Merced County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $278,000 | $368,400 |
| Median property tax | $1,224 | $2,487 |
| Effective tax rate | 0.440% | 0.675% |
| Median gross rent | — | $1,284 |
| Population | 1,637 | 285,597 |
The weather behind that power bill
South Dos Palos sits in Merced County, which averages a high of 95.6°F in its hottest month and a low of 34.3°F in its coldest, with 10.45" of precipitation a year and 59% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 980 cooling and 2,909 heating degree days, which is what sets the $150 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Merced County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Merced County
Full Merced County cost breakdown · Every county in California
Talk to someone who works this market
These are South Dos Palos 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 South Dos Palos every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in South Dos Palos I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in South Dos Palos?
A $278,000 home in South Dos Palos, California costs approximately $2,110 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $1,516 principal and interest, $102 property tax, $43 homeowners insurance, $218 utilities and $232 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in South Dos Palos?
South Dos Palos has an effective property tax rate of 0.440%, based on a median home value of $278,000 and median real estate taxes of $1,224. That is lower than the Merced County average of 0.675%.
What is the average home price in South Dos Palos?
The median owner-occupied home value in South Dos Palos, California is $278,000, against $368,400 across Merced County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in South Dos Palos?
Rent data is not published for South Dos Palos at this level of detail.
What salary do you need to buy a home in South Dos Palos?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in South Dos Palos, California at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $90,500 a year. That covers the full $2,110 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for South Dos Palos, 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.