Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Towson, Maryland
A $445,000 home here costs
$3,581per month, all in, with 20% down at today's 7.32% 30-year fixed rate. By the 28% rule that takes a household income of about $153,500 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $2,445. The real number is $1,136 higher every month, 46% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Baltimore County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Where every dollar goes
Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.
Towson against Baltimore County and Maryland
| Measure | Towson | Baltimore County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $445,100 | $330,000 |
| Median property tax | $4,642 | $3,645 |
| Effective tax rate | 1.043% | 1.105% |
| Median gross rent | $1,784 | $1,566 |
| Population | 57,683 | 849,586 |
The weather behind that power bill
Towson sits in Baltimore County, which averages a high of 90.1°F in its hottest month and a low of 30.0°F in its coldest, with 43.73" of precipitation a year and 31% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 1,749 cooling and 3,859 heating degree days, which is what sets the $199 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Baltimore County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Baltimore County
Full Baltimore County cost breakdown · Every county in Maryland
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Towson 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 Towson every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Towson I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Towson?
A $445,000 home in Towson, Maryland costs approximately $3,581 per month with 20% down at 7.32%. That is $2,445 principal and interest, $387 property tax, $111 homeowners insurance, $267 utilities and $371 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Towson?
Towson has an effective property tax rate of 1.043%, based on a median home value of $445,100 and median real estate taxes of $4,642. That is lower than the Baltimore County average of 1.105%.
What is the average home price in Towson?
The median owner-occupied home value in Towson, Maryland is $445,100, against $330,000 across Baltimore County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Towson?
Median gross rent in Towson is $1,784 a month, against $3,581 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 Towson?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Towson, Maryland at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $153,500 a year. That covers the full $3,581 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Towson, US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
- Homeowners insurance, NAIC average premium for Maryland.
- 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.