Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in West St. Paul, Minnesota
A $282,000 home here costs
$2,360per month, all in, with 20% down at today's 7.40% 30-year fixed rate. By the 28% rule that takes a household income of about $101,000 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,562. The real number is $798 higher every month, 51% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Dakota 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 St. Paul against Dakota County and Minnesota
| Measure | West St. Paul | Dakota County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $281,800 | $362,100 |
| Median property tax | $2,982 | $3,610 |
| Effective tax rate | 1.058% | 0.997% |
| Median gross rent | $1,195 | $1,497 |
| Population | 21,076 | 442,204 |
The weather behind that power bill
West St. Paul sits in Dakota County, which averages a high of 81.3°F in its hottest month and a low of 3.3°F in its coldest, with 34.12" of precipitation a year and 41% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 551 cooling and 8,121 heating degree days, which is what sets the $124 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Dakota County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Dakota County
Full Dakota County cost breakdown · Every county in Minnesota
Talk to someone who works this market
These are West St. Paul 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 St. Paul every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in West St. Paul I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in West St. Paul?
A $282,000 home in West St. Paul, Minnesota costs approximately $2,360 per month with 20% down at 7.4%. That is $1,562 principal and interest, $249 property tax, $122 homeowners insurance, $192 utilities and $235 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in West St. Paul?
West St. Paul has an effective property tax rate of 1.058%, based on a median home value of $281,800 and median real estate taxes of $2,982. That is higher than the Dakota County average of 0.997%.
What is the average home price in West St. Paul?
The median owner-occupied home value in West St. Paul, Minnesota is $281,800, against $362,100 across Dakota County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in West St. Paul?
Median gross rent in West St. Paul is $1,195 a month, against $2,360 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 St. Paul?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in West St. Paul, Minnesota at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $101,000 a year. That covers the full $2,360 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for West St. Paul, US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
- Homeowners insurance, NAIC average premium for Minnesota.
- 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.