Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Valley Forge, Tennessee
A $146,000 home here costs
$1,255per 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 $54,000 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $796. The real number is $459 higher every month, 58% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Carter County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for Valley Forge from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 1,900 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 Carter 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.
Valley Forge against Carter County and Tennessee
| Measure | Valley Forge | Carter County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $145,500 | $157,200 |
| Median property tax | $636 | $833 |
| Effective tax rate | 0.437% | 0.530% |
| Median gross rent | $736 | $738 |
| Population | 1,900 | 56,462 |
The weather behind that power bill
Valley Forge sits in Carter County, which averages a high of 85.5°F in its hottest month and a low of 25.5°F in its coldest, with 48.03" of precipitation a year and 32% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 1,008 cooling and 4,303 heating degree days, which is what sets the $155 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Carter County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Carter County
Full Carter County cost breakdown · Every county in Tennessee
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Valley Forge 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 Valley Forge every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Valley Forge I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Valley Forge?
A $146,000 home in Valley Forge, Tennessee costs approximately $1,255 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $796 principal and interest, $53 property tax, $61 homeowners insurance, $223 utilities and $122 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Valley Forge?
Valley Forge has an effective property tax rate of 0.437%, based on a median home value of $145,500 and median real estate taxes of $636. That is lower than the Carter County average of 0.530%.
What is the average home price in Valley Forge?
The median owner-occupied home value in Valley Forge, Tennessee is $145,500, against $157,200 across Carter County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Valley Forge?
Median gross rent in Valley Forge is $736 a month, against $1,255 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 Valley Forge?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Valley Forge, Tennessee at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $54,000 a year. That covers the full $1,255 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Valley Forge, US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
- Homeowners insurance, NAIC average premium for Tennessee.
- 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.