Cost to Own
United StatesCaliforniaStanislaus CountyWest Modesto Population 5,633 Data vintage ACS 2023 5-Year Rates updated 2026-07-30

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in West Modesto, California

A $286,000 home here costs

$2,242

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

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,470. The real number is $772 higher every month — 52% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

West Modesto median: $285,700
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, $228,800 borrowed $1,470
Property tax0.512% effective rate for West Modesto itself $122
Homeowners insuranceCalifornia averages $1,403/yr (NAIC), or 0.186% of home value $44
Electricity33.25¢/kWh — California residential average, EIA $299
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $238
Total monthly $2,242

West Modesto against Stanislaus County and California

MeasureWest ModestoStanislaus County
Median home value$285,700$426,600
Median property tax$1,463$3,025
Effective tax rate0.512%0.709%
Median gross rent$1,344$1,528
Population5,633552,250

The weather behind that power bill

West Modesto sits in Stanislaus County, which averages a high of 95.0°F in its hottest month and a low of 38.6°F in its coldest, with 12.27" of precipitation a year and 57% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 1,624 cooling and 2,300 heating degree days, which is what sets the $299 electricity line above.

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

Other cities in Stanislaus County

Full Stanislaus County cost breakdown · Every county in California

Common questions

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

A $286,000 home in West Modesto, California costs approximately $2,242 per month with 20% down at 6.66%. That is $1,470 principal and interest, $122 property tax, $44 homeowners insurance, $367 utilities and $238 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in West Modesto?

West Modesto has an effective property tax rate of 0.512%, based on a median home value of $285,700 and median real estate taxes of $1,463. That is lower than the Stanislaus County average of 0.709%.

What is the average home price in West Modesto?

The median owner-occupied home value in West Modesto, California is $285,700, against $426,600 across Stanislaus County.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in West Modesto?

Median gross rent in West Modesto is $1,344 a month, against $2,242 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 Modesto — US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
  • Homeowners insurance — NAIC average premium for California.
  • 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