Cost to Own
United States › Minnesota › Cottonwood County › Windom Population 4,786 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 $555 a month in taxes, insurance, utilities and upkeep. See the full Cottonwood County picture

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in Windom, Minnesota

A $158,000 home here costs

$1,416

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 $60,500 a year.

P&I 61%Tax 12%Insurance 5%Utilities 13%Upkeep 9%

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $861. The real number is $555 higher every month, 64% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

Compare Cottonwood County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown

Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for Windom from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 4,786 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 Cottonwood County figures are drawn from a far larger sample if you want a steadier number.

Windom median: $158,000
Under 20% adds PMI
Freddie Mac PMMS
MN 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, $126,400 borrowed $861
Property tax1.247% effective rate for Windom itself $164
Homeowners insuranceMinnesota averages $1,607/yr (NAIC), or 0.521% of home value $69
Electricity17.2ยข/kWh, Minnesota residential average, EIA $122
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $132
Total monthly $1,416

Windom against Cottonwood County and Minnesota

MeasureWindomCottonwood County
Median home value$158,000$154,000
Median property tax$1,971$1,737
Effective tax rate1.247%1.128%
Median gross rent$773$765
Population4,78611,458

The weather behind that power bill

Windom sits in Cottonwood County, which averages a high of 84.3°F in its hottest month and a low of 8.0°F in its coldest, with 31.74" of precipitation a year and 41% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 813 cooling and 7,402 heating degree days, which is what sets the $122 electricity line above.

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

Other cities in Cottonwood County

Full Cottonwood County cost breakdown · Every county in Minnesota

Talk to someone who works this market

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

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

Common questions

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

A $158,000 home in Windom, Minnesota costs approximately $1,416 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $861 principal and interest, $164 property tax, $69 homeowners insurance, $190 utilities and $132 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in Windom?

Windom has an effective property tax rate of 1.247%, based on a median home value of $158,000 and median real estate taxes of $1,971. That is higher than the Cottonwood County average of 1.128%.

What is the average home price in Windom?

The median owner-occupied home value in Windom, Minnesota is $158,000, against $154,000 across Cottonwood County.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Windom?

Median gross rent in Windom is $773 a month, against $1,416 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 Windom?

Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Windom, Minnesota at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $60,500 a year. That covers the full $1,416 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.

Sources & methodology

  • Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Windom, US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
  • Homeowners insurance, NAIC average premium for Minnesota.
  • 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