Cost to Own
United StatesIndianaElkhart CountyWakarusa Population 2,519 Data vintage ACS 2023 5-Year Rates updated 2026-07-30

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in Wakarusa, Indiana

A $202,000 home here costs

$1,648

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

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,038. The real number is $610 higher every month — 59% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

Wakarusa median: $202,400
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, $161,600 borrowed $1,038
Property tax0.738% effective rate for Wakarusa itself $124
Homeowners insuranceIndiana averages $1,058/yr (NAIC), or 0.512% of home value $86
Electricity18.15¢/kWh — Indiana residential average, EIA $163
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $168
Total monthly $1,648

Wakarusa against Elkhart County and Indiana

MeasureWakarusaElkhart County
Median home value$202,400$194,400
Median property tax$1,494$1,592
Effective tax rate0.738%0.819%
Median gross rent$1,214$1,023
Population2,519206,868

The weather behind that power bill

Wakarusa sits in Elkhart County, which averages a high of 83.3°F in its hottest month and a low of 17.8°F in its coldest, with 39.85" of precipitation a year and 31% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 793 cooling and 6,116 heating degree days, which is what sets the $163 electricity line above.

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

Other cities in Elkhart County

Full Elkhart County cost breakdown · Every county in Indiana

Common questions

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

A $202,000 home in Wakarusa, Indiana costs approximately $1,648 per month with 20% down at 6.66%. That is $1,038 principal and interest, $124 property tax, $86 homeowners insurance, $231 utilities and $168 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in Wakarusa?

Wakarusa has an effective property tax rate of 0.738%, based on a median home value of $202,400 and median real estate taxes of $1,494. That is lower than the Elkhart County average of 0.819%.

What is the average home price in Wakarusa?

The median owner-occupied home value in Wakarusa, Indiana is $202,400, against $194,400 across Elkhart County.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Wakarusa?

Median gross rent in Wakarusa is $1,214 a month, against $1,648 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 Wakarusa — US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
  • Homeowners insurance — NAIC average premium for Indiana.
  • 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