Cost to Own
United States › Nevada › Elko County › Wells Population 1,184 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 $472 a month in taxes, insurance, utilities and upkeep. See the full Elko County picture

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in Wells, Nevada

A $214,000 home here costs

$1,639

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 $70,000 a year.

P&I 71%Tax 4%Insurance 2%Utilities 11%Upkeep 11%

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,167. The real number is $472 higher every month, 40% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

Compare Elko County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown

Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for Wells from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 1,184 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 Elko County figures are drawn from a far larger sample if you want a steadier number.

Wells median: $213,500
Under 20% adds PMI
Freddie Mac PMMS
NV 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, $171,200 borrowed $1,167
Property tax0.391% effective rate for Wells itself $70
Homeowners insuranceNevada averages $863/yr (NAIC), or 0.21% of home value $37
Electricity12.72ยข/kWh, Nevada residential average, EIA $118
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $178
Total monthly $1,639

Wells against Elko County and Nevada

MeasureWellsElko County
Median home value$213,500$282,400
Median property tax$835$1,434
Effective tax rate0.391%0.508%
Median gross rent$977$1,126
Population1,18453,852

The weather behind that power bill

Wells sits in Elko County, which averages a high of 88.2°F in its hottest month and a low of 10.0°F in its coldest, with 12.35" of precipitation a year and 37% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 155 cooling and 7,832 heating degree days, which is what sets the $118 electricity line above.

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

Other cities in Elko County

Full Elko County cost breakdown · Every county in Nevada

Talk to someone who works this market

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

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

Common questions

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

A $214,000 home in Wells, Nevada costs approximately $1,639 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $1,167 principal and interest, $70 property tax, $37 homeowners insurance, $186 utilities and $178 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in Wells?

Wells has an effective property tax rate of 0.391%, based on a median home value of $213,500 and median real estate taxes of $835. That is lower than the Elko County average of 0.508%.

What is the average home price in Wells?

The median owner-occupied home value in Wells, Nevada is $213,500, against $282,400 across Elko County.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Wells?

Median gross rent in Wells is $977 a month, against $1,639 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 Wells?

Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Wells, Nevada at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $70,000 a year. That covers the full $1,639 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.

Sources & methodology

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