Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in St. Paul, Nebraska
A $184,000 home here costs
$1,683per 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 $72,000 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,003. The real number is $680 higher every month, 68% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Howard County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for St. Paul from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 2,574 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 Howard 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. Paul against Howard County and Nebraska
| Measure | St. Paul | Howard County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $184,400 | $205,200 |
| Median property tax | $2,569 | $2,314 |
| Effective tax rate | 1.393% | 1.128% |
| Median gross rent | $720 | $811 |
| Population | 2,574 | 6,492 |
The weather behind that power bill
St. Paul sits in Howard County, which averages a high of 88.8°F in its hottest month and a low of 14.3°F in its coldest, with 27.32" of precipitation a year and 44% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 1,129 cooling and 5,955 heating degree days, which is what sets the $129 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Howard County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Howard County
No other places of this size are published in Howard County.
Full Howard County cost breakdown · Every county in Nebraska
Talk to someone who works this market
These are St. Paul 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. Paul every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in St. Paul I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in St. Paul?
A $184,000 home in St. Paul, Nebraska costs approximately $1,683 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $1,003 principal and interest, $214 property tax, $116 homeowners insurance, $197 utilities and $153 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in St. Paul?
St. Paul has an effective property tax rate of 1.393%, based on a median home value of $184,400 and median real estate taxes of $2,569. That is higher than the Howard County average of 1.128%.
What is the average home price in St. Paul?
The median owner-occupied home value in St. Paul, Nebraska is $184,400, against $205,200 across Howard County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in St. Paul?
Median gross rent in St. Paul is $720 a month, against $1,683 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. Paul?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in St. Paul, Nebraska at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $72,000 a year. That covers the full $1,683 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for St. Paul, US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
- Homeowners insurance, NAIC average premium for Nebraska.
- 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.