Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Washington, North Carolina
A $194,000 home here costs
$1,653per 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 $71,000 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,058. The real number is $596 higher every month, 56% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Beaufort County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Where every dollar goes
Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.
Washington against Beaufort County and North Carolina
| Measure | Washington | Beaufort County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $193,800 | $181,200 |
| Median property tax | $1,725 | $1,277 |
| Effective tax rate | 0.890% | 0.705% |
| Median gross rent | $813 | $859 |
| Population | 9,754 | 44,597 |
The weather behind that power bill
Washington sits in Beaufort County, which averages a high of 88.9°F in its hottest month and a low of 36.2°F in its coldest, with 51.56" of precipitation a year and 33% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 2,026 cooling and 2,596 heating degree days, which is what sets the $152 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Beaufort County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Beaufort County
Full Beaufort County cost breakdown · Every county in North Carolina
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Washington 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 Washington every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Washington I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Washington?
A $194,000 home in Washington, North Carolina costs approximately $1,653 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $1,058 principal and interest, $144 property tax, $70 homeowners insurance, $220 utilities and $162 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Washington?
Washington has an effective property tax rate of 0.890%, based on a median home value of $193,800 and median real estate taxes of $1,725. That is higher than the Beaufort County average of 0.705%.
What is the average home price in Washington?
The median owner-occupied home value in Washington, North Carolina is $193,800, against $181,200 across Beaufort County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Washington?
Median gross rent in Washington is $813 a month, against $1,653 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 Washington?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Washington, North Carolina at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $71,000 a year. That covers the full $1,653 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Washington, US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
- Homeowners insurance, NAIC average premium for North Carolina.
- 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.