Cost to Own
United States › Wisconsin › Door County › Sturgeon Bay Population 9,702 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 $765 a month in taxes, insurance, utilities and upkeep. See the full Door County picture

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin

A $218,000 home here costs

$1,954

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 $83,500 a year.

P&I 61%Tax 17%Insurance 3%Utilities 10%Upkeep 9%

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,189. The real number is $765 higher every month, 64% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

Compare Door County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown

Sturgeon Bay median: $217,600
Under 20% adds PMI
Freddie Mac PMMS
WI 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, $174,400 borrowed $1,189
Property tax1.839% effective rate for Sturgeon Bay itself $334
Homeowners insuranceWisconsin averages $780/yr (NAIC), or 0.309% of home value $56
Electricity19.41ยข/kWh, Wisconsin residential average, EIA $125
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $182
Total monthly $1,954

Sturgeon Bay against Door County and Wisconsin

MeasureSturgeon BayDoor County
Median home value$217,600$305,800
Median property tax$4,001$3,350
Effective tax rate1.839%1.095%
Median gross rent$1,011$995
Population9,70230,279

The weather behind that power bill

Sturgeon Bay sits in Door County, which averages a high of 79.6°F in its hottest month and a low of 12.0°F in its coldest, with 30.98" of precipitation a year and 32% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 347 cooling and 7,725 heating degree days, which is what sets the $125 electricity line above.

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

Other cities in Door County

Full Door County cost breakdown · Every county in Wisconsin

Talk to someone who works this market

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

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

Common questions

How much does it cost to own a home in Sturgeon Bay?

A $218,000 home in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin costs approximately $1,954 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $1,189 principal and interest, $334 property tax, $56 homeowners insurance, $193 utilities and $182 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in Sturgeon Bay?

Sturgeon Bay has an effective property tax rate of 1.839%, based on a median home value of $217,600 and median real estate taxes of $4,001. That is higher than the Door County average of 1.095%.

What is the average home price in Sturgeon Bay?

The median owner-occupied home value in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin is $217,600, against $305,800 across Door County.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Sturgeon Bay?

Median gross rent in Sturgeon Bay is $1,011 a month, against $1,954 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 Sturgeon Bay?

Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $83,500 a year. That covers the full $1,954 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.

Sources & methodology

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