Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in St. Ignatius, Montana
A $194,000 home here costs
$1,557per month, all in — with 20% down at today's 6.66% 30-year fixed rate.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $997. The real number is $560 higher every month — 56% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
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 $132 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
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in St. Ignatius?
A $194,000 home in St. Ignatius, Montana costs approximately $1,557 per month with 20% down at 6.66%. That is $997 principal and interest, $131 property tax, $67 homeowners insurance, $200 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 $1,557 to own the median home all in. Renting costs less month to month here, though renting builds no equity.
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.