Cost to Own
United States › Mississippi › Oktibbeha County › Starkville Population 25,611 Data vintage ACS 2023 5-Year Rates updated 2026-10-29
The part nobody budgets Even with the mortgage fully paid off, the median home here still costs $910 a month in taxes, insurance, utilities and upkeep. See the full Oktibbeha County picture

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in Starkville, Mississippi

A $266,000 home here costs

$2,360

per 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 $101,000 a year.

P&I 61%Tax 9%Insurance 10%Utilities 10%Upkeep 9%

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,450. The real number is $910 higher every month, 63% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

Compare Oktibbeha County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown

Starkville median: $265,900
Under 20% adds PMI
Freddie Mac PMMS
MS average household

Where every dollar goes

Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.

Principal & interest30-year fixed, $212,800 borrowed $1,450
Property tax0.958% effective rate for Starkville itself $212
Homeowners insuranceMississippi averages $1,766/yr (NAIC), or 1.087% of home value $241
Electricity14.43ยข/kWh, Mississippi residential average, EIA $167
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $222
Total monthly $2,360

Starkville against Oktibbeha County and Mississippi

MeasureStarkvilleOktibbeha County
Median home value$265,900$219,500
Median property tax$2,548$1,685
Effective tax rate0.958%0.768%
Median gross rent$875$873
Population25,61151,473

The weather behind that power bill

Starkville sits in Oktibbeha County, which averages a high of 91.7°F in its hottest month and a low of 33.2°F in its coldest, with 57.98" of precipitation a year and 30% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 2,207 cooling and 2,699 heating degree days, which is what sets the $167 electricity line above.

See the full climate breakdown for Oktibbeha County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.

Other cities in Oktibbeha County

Full Oktibbeha County cost breakdown · Every county in Mississippi

Talk to someone who works this market

These are Starkville 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 Starkville every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.

I'm looking to buy in Starkville I already own here and may sell

Common questions

How much does it cost to own a home in Starkville?

A $266,000 home in Starkville, Mississippi costs approximately $2,360 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $1,450 principal and interest, $212 property tax, $241 homeowners insurance, $235 utilities and $222 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in Starkville?

Starkville has an effective property tax rate of 0.958%, based on a median home value of $265,900 and median real estate taxes of $2,548. That is higher than the Oktibbeha County average of 0.768%.

What is the average home price in Starkville?

The median owner-occupied home value in Starkville, Mississippi is $265,900, against $219,500 across Oktibbeha County.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Starkville?

Median gross rent in Starkville is $875 a month, against $2,360 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 Starkville?

Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Starkville, Mississippi at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $101,000 a year. That covers the full $2,360 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.

Sources & methodology

  • Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Starkville, US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
  • Homeowners insurance, NAIC average premium for Mississippi.
  • 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.

Full methodology