Cost to Own
United States › Kentucky › Letcher County › Whitesburg Population 1,998 Data vintage ACS 2023 5-Year Rates updated 2026-10-29
The part nobody budgets Even with the mortgage fully paid off, the median home here still costs $430 a month in taxes, insurance, utilities and upkeep. See the full Letcher County picture

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in Whitesburg, Kentucky

A $111,000 home here costs

$1,035

per 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 $44,500 a year.

P&I 58%Tax 6%Insurance 6%Utilities 21%Upkeep 9%

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $605. The real number is $430 higher every month, 71% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

Compare Letcher County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown

Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for Whitesburg from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 1,998 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 Letcher County figures are drawn from a far larger sample if you want a steadier number.

Whitesburg median: $111,300
Under 20% adds PMI
Freddie Mac PMMS
KY 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, $88,800 borrowed $605
Property tax0.716% effective rate for Whitesburg itself $66
Homeowners insuranceKentucky averages $1,232/yr (NAIC), or 0.631% of home value $58
Electricity13.8ยข/kWh, Kentucky residential average, EIA $144
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $93
Total monthly $1,035

Whitesburg against Letcher County and Kentucky

MeasureWhitesburgLetcher County
Median home value$111,300$70,500
Median property tax$797$657
Effective tax rate0.716%0.932%
Median gross rent$619$651
Population1,99821,146

The weather behind that power bill

Whitesburg sits in Letcher County, which averages a high of 81.8°F in its hottest month and a low of 24.1°F in its coldest, with 50.55" of precipitation a year and 30% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 712 cooling and 4,734 heating degree days, which is what sets the $144 electricity line above.

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

Other cities in Letcher County

Full Letcher County cost breakdown · Every county in Kentucky

Talk to someone who works this market

These are Whitesburg 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 Whitesburg every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.

I'm looking to buy in Whitesburg I already own here and may sell

Common questions

How much does it cost to own a home in Whitesburg?

A $111,000 home in Whitesburg, Kentucky costs approximately $1,035 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $605 principal and interest, $66 property tax, $58 homeowners insurance, $212 utilities and $93 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in Whitesburg?

Whitesburg has an effective property tax rate of 0.716%, based on a median home value of $111,300 and median real estate taxes of $797. That is lower than the Letcher County average of 0.932%.

What is the average home price in Whitesburg?

The median owner-occupied home value in Whitesburg, Kentucky is $111,300, against $70,500 across Letcher County.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Whitesburg?

Median gross rent in Whitesburg is $619 a month, against $1,035 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 Whitesburg?

Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Whitesburg, Kentucky at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $44,500 a year. That covers the full $1,035 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.

Sources & methodology

  • Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Whitesburg, 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.

Full methodology