Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Winter Haven, Florida
A $248,000 home here costs
$2,013per month, all in — with 20% down at today's 6.66% 30-year fixed rate.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,275. The real number is $738 higher every month — 58% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Where every dollar goes
Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.
Winter Haven against Polk County and Florida
| Measure | Winter Haven | Polk County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $248,200 | $240,000 |
| Median property tax | $2,121 | $1,769 |
| Effective tax rate | 0.855% | 0.737% |
| Median gross rent | $1,200 | $1,272 |
| Population | 52,846 | 760,961 |
The weather behind that power bill
Winter Haven sits in Polk County, which averages a high of 92.9°F in its hottest month and a low of 51.9°F in its coldest, with 46.12" of precipitation a year and 46% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 3,929 cooling and 421 heating degree days, which is what sets the $136 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Polk County — month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Polk County
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Winter Haven?
A $248,000 home in Winter Haven, Florida costs approximately $2,013 per month with 20% down at 6.66%. That is $1,275 principal and interest, $177 property tax, $150 homeowners insurance, $204 utilities and $207 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Winter Haven?
Winter Haven has an effective property tax rate of 0.855%, based on a median home value of $248,200 and median real estate taxes of $2,121. That is higher than the Polk County average of 0.737%.
What is the average home price in Winter Haven?
The median owner-occupied home value in Winter Haven, Florida is $248,200, against $240,000 across Polk County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Winter Haven?
Median gross rent in Winter Haven is $1,200 a month, against $2,013 to own the median home all in. Renting costs less month to month here, though renting builds no equity.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Winter Haven — US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
- Homeowners insurance — NAIC average premium for Florida.
- 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.