Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Williamstown, Massachusetts
A $437,000 home here costs
$3,601per 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 $154,500 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $2,383. The real number is $1,218 higher every month, 51% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Berkshire County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for Williamstown from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 4,352 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 Berkshire 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.
Williamstown against Berkshire County and Massachusetts
| Measure | Williamstown | Berkshire County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $436,900 | $283,800 |
| Median property tax | $5,992 | $3,891 |
| Effective tax rate | 1.371% | 1.371% |
| Median gross rent | $1,244 | $1,042 |
| Population | 4,352 | 128,047 |
The weather behind that power bill
Williamstown sits in Berkshire County, which averages a high of 79.3°F in its hottest month and a low of 13.9°F in its coldest, with 44.23" of precipitation a year and 29% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 344 cooling and 7,224 heating degree days, which is what sets the $174 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Berkshire County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Berkshire County
Full Berkshire County cost breakdown · Every county in Massachusetts
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Williamstown 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 Williamstown every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Williamstown I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Williamstown?
A $437,000 home in Williamstown, Massachusetts costs approximately $3,601 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $2,383 principal and interest, $499 property tax, $113 homeowners insurance, $242 utilities and $364 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Williamstown?
Williamstown has an effective property tax rate of 1.371%, based on a median home value of $436,900 and median real estate taxes of $5,992. That is in line with the Berkshire County average of 1.371%.
What is the average home price in Williamstown?
The median owner-occupied home value in Williamstown, Massachusetts is $436,900, against $283,800 across Berkshire County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Williamstown?
Median gross rent in Williamstown is $1,244 a month, against $3,601 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 Williamstown?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Williamstown, Massachusetts at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $154,500 a year. That covers the full $3,601 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Williamstown, US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
- Homeowners insurance, NAIC average premium for Massachusetts.
- 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.