Cost to Own
United States › North Dakota › Richland County › Wahpeton Population 7,996 Data vintage ACS 2023 5-Year Rates updated 2026-10-29
The part nobody budgets Even with the mortgage fully paid off, the median home here still costs $597 a month in taxes, insurance, utilities and upkeep. See the full Richland County picture

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in Wahpeton, North Dakota

A $165,000 home here costs

$1,496

per 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 $64,000 a year.

P&I 60%Tax 12%Insurance 5%Utilities 14%Upkeep 9%

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $900. The real number is $597 higher every month, 66% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

Compare Richland County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown

Wahpeton median: $164,600
Under 20% adds PMI
Freddie Mac PMMS
ND 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, $132,000 borrowed $900
Property tax1.334% effective rate for Wahpeton itself $183
Homeowners insuranceNorth Dakota averages $1,256/yr (NAIC), or 0.515% of home value $71
Electricity13.31ยข/kWh, North Dakota residential average, EIA $137
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $138
Total monthly $1,496

Wahpeton against Richland County and North Dakota

MeasureWahpetonRichland County
Median home value$164,600$177,600
Median property tax$2,195$2,015
Effective tax rate1.334%1.135%
Median gross rent$753$751
Population7,99616,550

The weather behind that power bill

Wahpeton sits in Richland County, which averages a high of 82.2°F in its hottest month and a low of 1.8°F in its coldest, with 24.2" of precipitation a year and 46% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 565 cooling and 8,565 heating degree days, which is what sets the $137 electricity line above.

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

Other cities in Richland County

No other places of this size are published in Richland County.

Full Richland County cost breakdown · Every county in North Dakota

Talk to someone who works this market

These are Wahpeton 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 Wahpeton every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.

I'm looking to buy in Wahpeton I already own here and may sell

Common questions

How much does it cost to own a home in Wahpeton?

A $165,000 home in Wahpeton, North Dakota costs approximately $1,496 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $900 principal and interest, $183 property tax, $71 homeowners insurance, $205 utilities and $138 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in Wahpeton?

Wahpeton has an effective property tax rate of 1.334%, based on a median home value of $164,600 and median real estate taxes of $2,195. That is higher than the Richland County average of 1.135%.

What is the average home price in Wahpeton?

The median owner-occupied home value in Wahpeton, North Dakota is $164,600, against $177,600 across Richland County.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Wahpeton?

Median gross rent in Wahpeton is $753 a month, against $1,496 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 Wahpeton?

Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Wahpeton, North Dakota at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $64,000 a year. That covers the full $1,496 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.

Sources & methodology

  • Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Wahpeton, US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
  • Homeowners insurance, NAIC average premium for North Dakota.
  • 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