Cost to Own
United StatesLouisianaOuachita ParishWest Monroe Population 12,837 Data vintage ACS 2023 5-Year Rates updated 2026-07-30

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in West Monroe, Louisiana

A $174,000 home here costs

$1,435

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

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $895. The real number is $541 higher every month — 60% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

West Monroe median: $174,400
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, $139,200 borrowed $895
Property tax0.300% effective rate for West Monroe itself $44
Homeowners insuranceLouisiana averages $2,259/yr (NAIC), or 1.083% of home value $157
Electricity14.15¢/kWh — Louisiana residential average, EIA $127
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $145
Total monthly $1,435

West Monroe against Ouachita Parish and Louisiana

MeasureWest MonroeOuachita Parish
Median home value$174,400$183,000
Median property tax$524$1,016
Effective tax rate0.300%0.555%
Median gross rent$815$923
Population12,837158,916

The weather behind that power bill

West Monroe sits in Ouachita Parish, which averages a high of 93.6°F in its hottest month and a low of 36.7°F in its coldest, with 55.1" of precipitation a year and 28% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 2,495 cooling and 2,213 heating degree days, which is what sets the $127 electricity line above.

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

Other cities in Ouachita Parish

Full Ouachita Parish cost breakdown · Every county in Louisiana

Common questions

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

A $174,000 home in West Monroe, Louisiana costs approximately $1,435 per month with 20% down at 6.66%. That is $895 principal and interest, $44 property tax, $157 homeowners insurance, $195 utilities and $145 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in West Monroe?

West Monroe has an effective property tax rate of 0.300%, based on a median home value of $174,400 and median real estate taxes of $524. That is lower than the Ouachita Parish average of 0.555%.

What is the average home price in West Monroe?

The median owner-occupied home value in West Monroe, Louisiana is $174,400, against $183,000 across Ouachita Parish.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in West Monroe?

Median gross rent in West Monroe is $815 a month, against $1,435 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 Monroe — US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
  • Homeowners insurance — NAIC average premium for Louisiana.
  • 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