Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in West Hattiesburg, Mississippi
A $209,000 home here costs
$1,837per 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 $78,500 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,139. The real number is $697 higher every month, 61% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Lamar County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Where every dollar goes
Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.
West Hattiesburg against Lamar County and Mississippi
| Measure | West Hattiesburg | Lamar County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $209,100 | $218,700 |
| Median property tax | $1,189 | $1,459 |
| Effective tax rate | 0.569% | 0.667% |
| Median gross rent | $1,014 | $1,061 |
| Population | 6,509 | 65,081 |
The weather behind that power bill
West Hattiesburg sits in Lamar County, which averages a high of 91.8°F in its hottest month and a low of 38.1°F in its coldest, with 58.91" of precipitation a year and 28% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 2,479 cooling and 1,920 heating degree days, which is what sets the $167 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Lamar County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Lamar County
Full Lamar County cost breakdown · Every county in Mississippi
Talk to someone who works this market
These are West Hattiesburg 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 Hattiesburg every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in West Hattiesburg I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in West Hattiesburg?
A $209,000 home in West Hattiesburg, Mississippi costs approximately $1,837 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $1,139 principal and interest, $99 property tax, $189 homeowners insurance, $235 utilities and $174 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in West Hattiesburg?
West Hattiesburg has an effective property tax rate of 0.569%, based on a median home value of $209,100 and median real estate taxes of $1,189. That is lower than the Lamar County average of 0.667%.
What is the average home price in West Hattiesburg?
The median owner-occupied home value in West Hattiesburg, Mississippi is $209,100, against $218,700 across Lamar County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in West Hattiesburg?
Median gross rent in West Hattiesburg is $1,014 a month, against $1,837 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 Hattiesburg?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in West Hattiesburg, Mississippi at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $78,500 a year. That covers the full $1,837 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for West Hattiesburg, US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
- Homeowners insurance, NAIC average premium for Mississippi.
- 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.