Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in West Van Lear, Kentucky
A $131,000 home here costs
$1,204per 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 $51,500 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $714. The real number is $490 higher every month, 69% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Johnson County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for West Van Lear from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 1,224 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 Johnson 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 Van Lear against Johnson County and Kentucky
| Measure | West Van Lear | Johnson County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $131,100 | $125,300 |
| Median property tax | $1,195 | $808 |
| Effective tax rate | 0.912% | 0.645% |
| Median gross rent | — | $698 |
| Population | 1,224 | 22,464 |
The weather behind that power bill
West Van Lear sits in Johnson County, which averages a high of 86.2°F in its hottest month and a low of 22.9°F in its coldest, with 46.19" of precipitation a year and 31% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 1,095 cooling and 4,604 heating degree days, which is what sets the $144 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Johnson County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Johnson County
Full Johnson County cost breakdown · Every county in Kentucky
Talk to someone who works this market
These are West Van Lear 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 Van Lear every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in West Van Lear I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in West Van Lear?
A $131,000 home in West Van Lear, Kentucky costs approximately $1,204 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $714 principal and interest, $100 property tax, $69 homeowners insurance, $212 utilities and $109 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in West Van Lear?
West Van Lear has an effective property tax rate of 0.912%, based on a median home value of $131,100 and median real estate taxes of $1,195. That is higher than the Johnson County average of 0.645%.
What is the average home price in West Van Lear?
The median owner-occupied home value in West Van Lear, Kentucky is $131,100, against $125,300 across Johnson County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in West Van Lear?
Rent data is not published for West Van Lear at this level of detail.
What salary do you need to buy a home in West Van Lear?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in West Van Lear, Kentucky at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $51,500 a year. That covers the full $1,204 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for West Van Lear, US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
- Homeowners insurance, NAIC average premium for Kentucky.
- 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.