Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in West Dennis, Massachusetts
A $581,000 home here costs
$4,314per 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 $185,000 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $3,168. The real number is $1,147 higher every month, 36% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Barnstable County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for West Dennis from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 2,586 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 Barnstable 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.
West Dennis against Barnstable County and Massachusetts
| Measure | West Dennis | Barnstable County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $580,900 | $575,900 |
| Median property tax | $3,248 | $4,090 |
| Effective tax rate | 0.559% | 0.710% |
| Median gross rent | $1,620 | $1,596 |
| Population | 2,586 | 230,073 |
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 $174 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
Talk to someone who works this market
These are West Dennis 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 West Dennis every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in West Dennis I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in West Dennis?
A $581,000 home in West Dennis, Massachusetts costs approximately $4,314 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $3,168 principal and interest, $271 property tax, $150 homeowners insurance, $242 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 $4,314 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 West Dennis?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in West Dennis, Massachusetts at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $185,000 a year. That covers the full $4,314 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
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.