Cost to Own
United StatesMassachusettsBarnstable CountyWest Dennis Population 2,586 Data vintage ACS 2023 5-Year Rates updated 2026-07-30

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in West Dennis, Massachusetts

A $581,000 home here costs

$4,219

per month, all in — with 20% down at today's 6.66% 30-year fixed rate.

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $2,987. The real number is $1,232 higher every month — 41% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

West Dennis median: $580,900
Under 20% adds PMI
Freddie Mac PMMS
US 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, $464,800 borrowed $2,987
Property tax0.559% effective rate for West Dennis itself $271
Homeowners insuranceMassachusetts averages $1,712/yr (NAIC), or 0.31% of home value $150
Electricity28.82¢/kWh — Massachusetts residential average, EIA $259
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $484
Total monthly $4,219

West Dennis against Barnstable County and Massachusetts

MeasureWest DennisBarnstable County
Median home value$580,900$575,900
Median property tax$3,248$4,090
Effective tax rate0.559%0.710%
Median gross rent$1,620$1,596
Population2,586230,073

The weather behind that power bill

West Dennis sits in Barnstable County, which averages a high of 80.8°F in its hottest month and a low of 24.1°F in its coldest, with 44.7" of precipitation a year and 29% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 632 cooling and 5,518 heating degree days, which is what sets the $259 electricity line above.

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

Other cities in Barnstable County

Full Barnstable County cost breakdown · Every county in Massachusetts

Common questions

How much does it cost to own a home in West Dennis?

A $581,000 home in West Dennis, Massachusetts costs approximately $4,219 per month with 20% down at 6.66%. That is $2,987 principal and interest, $271 property tax, $150 homeowners insurance, $327 utilities and $484 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in West Dennis?

West Dennis has an effective property tax rate of 0.559%, based on a median home value of $580,900 and median real estate taxes of $3,248. That is lower than the Barnstable County average of 0.710%.

What is the average home price in West Dennis?

The median owner-occupied home value in West Dennis, Massachusetts is $580,900, against $575,900 across Barnstable County.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in West Dennis?

Median gross rent in West Dennis is $1,620 a month, against $4,219 to own the median home all in. Renting costs less month to month here, though renting builds no equity.

Sources & methodology

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