Cost to Own
United States › Nebraska › Wayne County › Wayne Population 6,055 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 $711 a month in taxes, insurance, utilities and upkeep. See the full Wayne County picture

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in Wayne, Nebraska

A $199,000 home here costs

$1,796

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 $77,000 a year.

P&I 60%Tax 12%Insurance 7%Utilities 11%Upkeep 9%

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,085. The real number is $711 higher every month, 66% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

Compare Wayne County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown

Wayne median: $198,600
Under 20% adds PMI
Freddie Mac PMMS
NE 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, $159,200 borrowed $1,085
Property tax1.344% effective rate for Wayne itself $223
Homeowners insuranceNebraska averages $1,684/yr (NAIC), or 0.755% of home value $125
Electricity13.54ยข/kWh, Nebraska residential average, EIA $129
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $166
Total monthly $1,796

Wayne against Wayne County and Nebraska

MeasureWayneWayne County
Median home value$198,600$203,700
Median property tax$2,670$2,432
Effective tax rate1.344%1.194%
Median gross rent$707$732
Population6,0559,786

The weather behind that power bill

Wayne sits in Wayne County, which averages a high of 85.1°F in its hottest month and a low of 10.8°F in its coldest, with 27.47" of precipitation a year and 42% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 854 cooling and 6,912 heating degree days, which is what sets the $129 electricity line above.

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

Other cities in Wayne County

Full Wayne County cost breakdown · Every county in Nebraska

Talk to someone who works this market

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

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

Common questions

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

A $199,000 home in Wayne, Nebraska costs approximately $1,796 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $1,085 principal and interest, $223 property tax, $125 homeowners insurance, $197 utilities and $166 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in Wayne?

Wayne has an effective property tax rate of 1.344%, based on a median home value of $198,600 and median real estate taxes of $2,670. That is higher than the Wayne County average of 1.194%.

What is the average home price in Wayne?

The median owner-occupied home value in Wayne, Nebraska is $198,600, against $203,700 across Wayne County.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Wayne?

Median gross rent in Wayne is $707 a month, against $1,796 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 Wayne?

Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Wayne, Nebraska at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $77,000 a year. That covers the full $1,796 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.

Sources & methodology

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