Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Watkins, Colorado
A $726,000 home here costs
$5,182per 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 $222,000 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $3,958. The real number is $1,224 higher every month, 31% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Arapahoe County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for Watkins from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 1,087 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 Arapahoe 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.
Watkins against Arapahoe County and Colorado
| Measure | Watkins | Arapahoe County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $725,900 | $526,000 |
| Median property tax | $2,703 | $2,767 |
| Effective tax rate | 0.372% | 0.526% |
| Median gross rent | — | $1,812 |
| Population | 1,087 | 655,709 |
Watkins extends across 2 counties. Figures here use Arapahoe County, where most of its housing sits.
The weather behind that power bill
Watkins sits in Arapahoe County, which averages a high of 89.9°F in its hottest month and a low of 18.4°F in its coldest, with 14.48" of precipitation a year and 43% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 850 cooling and 5,862 heating degree days, which is what sets the $116 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Arapahoe County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Arapahoe County
Full Arapahoe County cost breakdown · Every county in Colorado
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Watkins 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 Watkins every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Watkins I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Watkins?
A $726,000 home in Watkins, Colorado costs approximately $5,182 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $3,958 principal and interest, $225 property tax, $211 homeowners insurance, $184 utilities and $605 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Watkins?
Watkins has an effective property tax rate of 0.372%, based on a median home value of $725,900 and median real estate taxes of $2,703. That is lower than the Arapahoe County average of 0.526%.
What is the average home price in Watkins?
The median owner-occupied home value in Watkins, Colorado is $725,900, against $526,000 across Arapahoe County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Watkins?
Rent data is not published for Watkins at this level of detail.
What salary do you need to buy a home in Watkins?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Watkins, Colorado at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $222,000 a year. That covers the full $5,182 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Watkins, US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
- Homeowners insurance, NAIC average premium for Colorado.
- 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.