Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in The Plains, Ohio
A $244,000 home here costs
$2,128per 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 $91,000 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,330. The real number is $797 higher every month, 60% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Athens County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for The Plains from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 2,584 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 Athens 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.
The Plains against Athens County and Ohio
| Measure | The Plains | Athens County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $244,300 | $173,800 |
| Median property tax | $3,260 | $2,094 |
| Effective tax rate | 1.334% | 1.205% |
| Median gross rent | $895 | $903 |
| Population | 2,584 | 61,573 |
The weather behind that power bill
The Plains sits in Athens County, which averages a high of 82.4°F in its hottest month and a low of 21.5°F in its coldest, with 41.56" of precipitation a year and 31% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 767 cooling and 5,386 heating degree days, which is what sets the $164 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Athens County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Athens County
Talk to someone who works this market
These are The Plains 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 The Plains every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in The Plains I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in The Plains?
A $244,000 home in The Plains, Ohio costs approximately $2,128 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $1,330 principal and interest, $271 property tax, $91 homeowners insurance, $232 utilities and $203 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in The Plains?
The Plains has an effective property tax rate of 1.334%, based on a median home value of $244,300 and median real estate taxes of $3,260. That is higher than the Athens County average of 1.205%.
What is the average home price in The Plains?
The median owner-occupied home value in The Plains, Ohio is $244,300, against $173,800 across Athens County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in The Plains?
Median gross rent in The Plains is $895 a month, against $2,128 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 The Plains?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in The Plains, Ohio at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $91,000 a year. That covers the full $2,128 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for The Plains, US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
- Homeowners insurance, NAIC average premium for Ohio.
- 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.