Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Van Buren, Maine
A $90,000 home here costs
$947per 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 $40,500 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $491. The real number is $456 higher every month, 93% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Aroostook County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for Van Buren from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 1,614 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 Aroostook 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.
Van Buren against Aroostook County and Maine
| Measure | Van Buren | Aroostook County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $90,200 | $131,700 |
| Median property tax | $1,320 | $1,611 |
| Effective tax rate | 1.463% | 1.223% |
| Median gross rent | $596 | $736 |
| Population | 1,614 | 67,227 |
The weather behind that power bill
Van Buren sits in Aroostook County, which averages a high of 77.1°F in its hottest month and a low of 2.6°F in its coldest, with 40.7" of precipitation a year and 29% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 225 cooling and 9,048 heating degree days, which is what sets the $177 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Aroostook County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Aroostook County
Full Aroostook County cost breakdown · Every county in Maine
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Van Buren 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 Van Buren every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Van Buren I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Van Buren?
A $90,000 home in Van Buren, Maine costs approximately $947 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $491 principal and interest, $110 property tax, $27 homeowners insurance, $245 utilities and $75 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Van Buren?
Van Buren has an effective property tax rate of 1.463%, based on a median home value of $90,200 and median real estate taxes of $1,320. That is higher than the Aroostook County average of 1.223%.
What is the average home price in Van Buren?
The median owner-occupied home value in Van Buren, Maine is $90,200, against $131,700 across Aroostook County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Van Buren?
Median gross rent in Van Buren is $596 a month, against $947 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 Van Buren?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Van Buren, Maine at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $40,500 a year. That covers the full $947 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Van Buren, US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
- Homeowners insurance, NAIC average premium for Maine.
- 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.