Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Valdez, Alaska
A $312,000 home here costs
$2,591per 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 $111,000 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,701. The real number is $890 higher every month, 52% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Chugach Census Area with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for Valdez from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 3,911 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 Chugach Census Area 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.
Valdez against Chugach Census Area and Alaska
| Measure | Valdez | Chugach Census Area |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $312,400 | $330,900 |
| Median property tax | $3,701 | $3,033 |
| Effective tax rate | 1.185% | 0.917% |
| Median gross rent | $1,463 | $1,397 |
| Population | 3,911 | 6,964 |
The weather behind that power bill
Valdez sits in Chugach Census Area, which averages a high of 61.9°F in its hottest month and a low of 19.0°F in its coldest, with 86.18" of precipitation a year and 39% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 1 cooling and 9,136 heating degree days, which is what sets the $170 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Chugach Census Area , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Chugach Census Area
Full Chugach Census Area cost breakdown · Every county in Alaska
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Valdez 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 Valdez every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Valdez I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Valdez?
A $312,000 home in Valdez, Alaska costs approximately $2,591 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $1,701 principal and interest, $308 property tax, $83 homeowners insurance, $238 utilities and $260 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Valdez?
Valdez has an effective property tax rate of 1.185%, based on a median home value of $312,400 and median real estate taxes of $3,701. That is higher than the Chugach Census Area average of 0.917%.
What is the average home price in Valdez?
The median owner-occupied home value in Valdez, Alaska is $312,400, against $330,900 across Chugach Census Area.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Valdez?
Median gross rent in Valdez is $1,463 a month, against $2,591 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 Valdez?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Valdez, Alaska at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $111,000 a year. That covers the full $2,591 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Valdez, US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
- Homeowners insurance, NAIC average premium for Alaska.
- 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.