Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Watertown, Minnesota
A $315,000 home here costs
$2,590per 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 $111,000 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,717. The real number is $873 higher every month, 51% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Carver County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for Watertown from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 4,747 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 Carver 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.
Watertown against Carver County and Minnesota
| Measure | Watertown | Carver County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $315,200 | $426,900 |
| Median property tax | $3,402 | $4,380 |
| Effective tax rate | 1.079% | 1.026% |
| Median gross rent | $967 | $1,444 |
| Population | 4,747 | 108,622 |
The weather behind that power bill
Watertown sits in Carver County, which averages a high of 83.7°F in its hottest month and a low of 7.7°F in its coldest, with 30.64" of precipitation a year and 45% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 788 cooling and 7,430 heating degree days, which is what sets the $122 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Carver County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Carver County
Full Carver County cost breakdown · Every county in Minnesota
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Watertown 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 Watertown every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Watertown I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Watertown?
A $315,000 home in Watertown, Minnesota costs approximately $2,590 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $1,717 principal and interest, $283 property tax, $137 homeowners insurance, $190 utilities and $263 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Watertown?
Watertown has an effective property tax rate of 1.079%, based on a median home value of $315,200 and median real estate taxes of $3,402. That is higher than the Carver County average of 1.026%.
What is the average home price in Watertown?
The median owner-occupied home value in Watertown, Minnesota is $315,200, against $426,900 across Carver County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Watertown?
Median gross rent in Watertown is $967 a month, against $2,590 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 Watertown?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Watertown, Minnesota at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $111,000 a year. That covers the full $2,590 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Watertown, US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
- Homeowners insurance, NAIC average premium for Minnesota.
- 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.