Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in St. Ignatius, Montana
A $194,000 home here costs
$1,618per 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 $69,500 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,058. The real number is $561 higher every month, 53% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Lake County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for St. Ignatius from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 1,053 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 Lake 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.
St. Ignatius against Lake County and Montana
| Measure | St. Ignatius | Lake County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $194,200 | $369,200 |
| Median property tax | $1,578 | $2,436 |
| Effective tax rate | 0.813% | 0.660% |
| Median gross rent | $792 | $884 |
| Population | 1,053 | 32,073 |
The weather behind that power bill
St. Ignatius sits in Lake County, which averages a high of 82.8°F in its hottest month and a low of 22.0°F in its coldest, with 15.01" of precipitation a year and 39% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 295 cooling and 7,130 heating degree days, which is what sets the $133 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Lake County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Lake County
Talk to someone who works this market
These are St. Ignatius 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 St. Ignatius every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in St. Ignatius I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in St. Ignatius?
A $194,000 home in St. Ignatius, Montana costs approximately $1,618 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $1,058 principal and interest, $131 property tax, $67 homeowners insurance, $201 utilities and $162 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in St. Ignatius?
St. Ignatius has an effective property tax rate of 0.813%, based on a median home value of $194,200 and median real estate taxes of $1,578. That is higher than the Lake County average of 0.660%.
What is the average home price in St. Ignatius?
The median owner-occupied home value in St. Ignatius, Montana is $194,200, against $369,200 across Lake County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in St. Ignatius?
Median gross rent in St. Ignatius is $792 a month, against $1,618 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 St. Ignatius?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in St. Ignatius, Montana at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $69,500 a year. That covers the full $1,618 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for St. Ignatius, US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
- Homeowners insurance, NAIC average premium for Montana.
- 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.