Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in St. James, Minnesota
A $110,000 home here costs
$1,065per 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 $45,500 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $600. The real number is $465 higher every month, 78% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Watonwan County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for St. James from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 4,740 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 Watonwan 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. James against Watonwan County and Minnesota
| Measure | St. James | Watonwan County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $109,600 | $151,600 |
| Median property tax | $1,613 | $1,557 |
| Effective tax rate | 1.472% | 1.027% |
| Median gross rent | $805 | $807 |
| Population | 4,740 | 11,169 |
The weather behind that power bill
St. James sits in Watonwan County, which averages a high of 82.8°F in its hottest month and a low of 5.2°F in its coldest, with 33.12" of precipitation a year and 41% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 686 cooling and 7,788 heating degree days, which is what sets the $122 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Watonwan County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Watonwan County
Full Watonwan County cost breakdown · Every county in Minnesota
Talk to someone who works this market
These are St. James 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. James every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in St. James I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in St. James?
A $110,000 home in St. James, Minnesota costs approximately $1,065 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $600 principal and interest, $135 property tax, $48 homeowners insurance, $190 utilities and $92 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in St. James?
St. James has an effective property tax rate of 1.472%, based on a median home value of $109,600 and median real estate taxes of $1,613. That is higher than the Watonwan County average of 1.027%.
What is the average home price in St. James?
The median owner-occupied home value in St. James, Minnesota is $109,600, against $151,600 across Watonwan County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in St. James?
Median gross rent in St. James is $805 a month, against $1,065 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. James?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in St. James, Minnesota at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $45,500 a year. That covers the full $1,065 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for St. James, US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
- Homeowners insurance, NAIC average premium for Minnesota.
- 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.