Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Williamston, Michigan
A $215,000 home here costs
$2,007per 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 $86,000 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,172. The real number is $835 higher every month, 71% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Ingham County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for Williamston from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 3,800 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 Ingham 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.
Williamston against Ingham County and Michigan
| Measure | Williamston | Ingham County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $215,000 | $187,500 |
| Median property tax | $4,386 | $3,488 |
| Effective tax rate | 2.040% | 1.860% |
| Median gross rent | $972 | $1,058 |
| Population | 3,800 | 282,015 |
The weather behind that power bill
Williamston sits in Ingham County, which averages a high of 83.0°F in its hottest month and a low of 17.5°F in its coldest, with 34.32" of precipitation a year and 34% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 707 cooling and 6,411 heating degree days, which is what sets the $142 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Ingham County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Ingham County
Full Ingham County cost breakdown · Every county in Michigan
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Williamston 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 Williamston every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Williamston I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Williamston?
A $215,000 home in Williamston, Michigan costs approximately $2,007 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $1,172 principal and interest, $366 property tax, $80 homeowners insurance, $210 utilities and $179 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Williamston?
Williamston has an effective property tax rate of 2.040%, based on a median home value of $215,000 and median real estate taxes of $4,386. That is higher than the Ingham County average of 1.860%.
What is the average home price in Williamston?
The median owner-occupied home value in Williamston, Michigan is $215,000, against $187,500 across Ingham County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Williamston?
Median gross rent in Williamston is $972 a month, against $2,007 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 Williamston?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Williamston, Michigan at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $86,000 a year. That covers the full $2,007 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Williamston, US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
- Homeowners insurance, NAIC average premium for Michigan.
- 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.