Cost to Own
United States › Pennsylvania › Lehigh County › Stiles Population 1,353 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 $942 a month in taxes, insurance, utilities and upkeep. See the full Lehigh County picture

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in Stiles, Pennsylvania

A $236,000 home here costs

$2,229

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 $95,500 a year.

P&I 58%Tax 19%Insurance 4%Utilities 11%Upkeep 9%

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,287. The real number is $942 higher every month, 73% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

Compare Lehigh County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown

Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for Stiles from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 1,353 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 Lehigh County figures are drawn from a far larger sample if you want a steadier number.

Stiles median: $236,400
Under 20% adds PMI
Freddie Mac PMMS
PA 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, $188,800 borrowed $1,287
Property tax2.140% effective rate for Stiles itself $421
Homeowners insurancePennsylvania averages $1,014/yr (NAIC), or 0.401% of home value $79
Electricity21.77ยข/kWh, Pennsylvania residential average, EIA $178
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $197
Total monthly $2,229

Stiles against Lehigh County and Pennsylvania

MeasureStilesLehigh County
Median home value$236,400$276,100
Median property tax$5,058$4,591
Effective tax rate2.140%1.663%
Median gross rent$1,162$1,326
Population1,353375,408

The weather behind that power bill

Stiles sits in Lehigh County, which averages a high of 86.4°F in its hottest month and a low of 21.8°F in its coldest, with 47.36" of precipitation a year and 31% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 981 cooling and 5,293 heating degree days, which is what sets the $178 electricity line above.

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

Other cities in Lehigh County

Full Lehigh County cost breakdown · Every county in Pennsylvania

Talk to someone who works this market

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

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

Common questions

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

A $236,000 home in Stiles, Pennsylvania costs approximately $2,229 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $1,287 principal and interest, $421 property tax, $79 homeowners insurance, $246 utilities and $197 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in Stiles?

Stiles has an effective property tax rate of 2.140%, based on a median home value of $236,400 and median real estate taxes of $5,058. That is higher than the Lehigh County average of 1.663%.

What is the average home price in Stiles?

The median owner-occupied home value in Stiles, Pennsylvania is $236,400, against $276,100 across Lehigh County.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Stiles?

Median gross rent in Stiles is $1,162 a month, against $2,229 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 Stiles?

Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Stiles, Pennsylvania at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $95,500 a year. That covers the full $2,229 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.

Sources & methodology

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