Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Westby, Wisconsin
A $165,000 home here costs
$1,464per 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 $62,500 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $900. The real number is $565 higher every month, 63% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Vernon County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for Westby from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 2,380 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 Vernon 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.
Westby against Vernon County and Wisconsin
| Measure | Westby | Vernon County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $165,000 | $210,600 |
| Median property tax | $2,296 | $2,883 |
| Effective tax rate | 1.392% | 1.369% |
| Median gross rent | $866 | $826 |
| Population | 2,380 | 30,915 |
The weather behind that power bill
Westby sits in Vernon County, which averages a high of 79.1°F in its hottest month and a low of 6.1°F in its coldest, with 38" of precipitation a year and 39% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 396 cooling and 8,132 heating degree days, which is what sets the $125 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Vernon County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Vernon County
Full Vernon County cost breakdown · Every county in Wisconsin
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Westby 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 Westby every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Westby I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Westby?
A $165,000 home in Westby, Wisconsin costs approximately $1,464 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $900 principal and interest, $191 property tax, $42 homeowners insurance, $193 utilities and $138 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Westby?
Westby has an effective property tax rate of 1.392%, based on a median home value of $165,000 and median real estate taxes of $2,296. That is higher than the Vernon County average of 1.369%.
What is the average home price in Westby?
The median owner-occupied home value in Westby, Wisconsin is $165,000, against $210,600 across Vernon County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Westby?
Median gross rent in Westby is $866 a month, against $1,464 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 Westby?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Westby, Wisconsin at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $62,500 a year. That covers the full $1,464 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Westby, US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
- Homeowners insurance, NAIC average premium for Wisconsin.
- 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.