Cost to Own
United StatesOhioCuyahoga CountyUniversity Heights Population 13,508 Data vintage ACS 2023 5-Year Rates updated 2026-07-30

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in University Heights, Ohio

A $225,000 home here costs

$2,235

per month, all in — with 20% down at today's 6.66% 30-year fixed rate.

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,157. The real number is $1,079 higher every month — 93% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

University Heights median: $224,900
Under 20% adds PMI
Freddie Mac PMMS
US 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, $180,000 borrowed $1,157
Property tax3.008% effective rate for University Heights itself $564
Homeowners insuranceOhio averages $920/yr (NAIC), or 0.446% of home value $84
Electricity19.52¢/kWh — Ohio residential average, EIA $175
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $188
Total monthly $2,235

University Heights against Cuyahoga County and Ohio

MeasureUniversity HeightsCuyahoga County
Median home value$224,900$183,200
Median property tax$6,765$3,819
Effective tax rate3.008%2.085%
Median gross rent$1,445$1,005
Population13,5081,249,418

The weather behind that power bill

University Heights sits in Cuyahoga County, which averages a high of 80.7°F in its hottest month and a low of 23.5°F in its coldest, with 33.34" of precipitation a year and 30% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 925 cooling and 5,513 heating degree days, which is what sets the $175 electricity line above.

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

Other cities in Cuyahoga County

Full Cuyahoga County cost breakdown · Every county in Ohio

Common questions

How much does it cost to own a home in University Heights?

A $225,000 home in University Heights, Ohio costs approximately $2,235 per month with 20% down at 6.66%. That is $1,157 principal and interest, $564 property tax, $84 homeowners insurance, $243 utilities and $188 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in University Heights?

University Heights has an effective property tax rate of 3.008%, based on a median home value of $224,900 and median real estate taxes of $6,765. That is higher than the Cuyahoga County average of 2.085%.

What is the average home price in University Heights?

The median owner-occupied home value in University Heights, Ohio is $224,900, against $183,200 across Cuyahoga County.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in University Heights?

Median gross rent in University Heights is $1,445 a month, against $2,235 to own the median home all in. Renting costs less month to month here, though renting builds no equity.

Sources & methodology

  • Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for University Heights — 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.

Full methodology