Cost to Own
United StatesCaliforniaKern CountyWofford Heights Population 2,209 Data vintage ACS 2023 5-Year Rates updated 2026-07-30

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in Wofford Heights, California

A $197,000 home here costs

$1,692

per month, all in — with 20% down at today's 6.66% 30-year fixed rate.

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,013. The real number is $679 higher every month — 67% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

Wofford Heights median: $196,600
Under 20% adds PMI
Freddie Mac PMMS
US 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, $157,600 borrowed $1,013
Property tax0.717% effective rate for Wofford Heights itself $118
Homeowners insuranceCalifornia averages $1,403/yr (NAIC), or 0.186% of home value $31
Electricity33.25¢/kWh — California residential average, EIA $299
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $164
Total monthly $1,692

Wofford Heights against Kern County and California

MeasureWofford HeightsKern County
Median home value$196,600$310,600
Median property tax$1,410$2,833
Effective tax rate0.717%0.912%
Median gross rent$921$1,220
Population2,209910,433

The weather behind that power bill

Wofford Heights sits in Kern County, which averages a high of 98.3°F in its hottest month and a low of 39.6°F in its coldest, with 6.36" of precipitation a year and 55% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 2,425 cooling and 1,958 heating degree days, which is what sets the $299 electricity line above.

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

Other cities in Kern County

Full Kern County cost breakdown · Every county in California

Common questions

How much does it cost to own a home in Wofford Heights?

A $197,000 home in Wofford Heights, California costs approximately $1,692 per month with 20% down at 6.66%. That is $1,013 principal and interest, $118 property tax, $31 homeowners insurance, $367 utilities and $164 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in Wofford Heights?

Wofford Heights has an effective property tax rate of 0.717%, based on a median home value of $196,600 and median real estate taxes of $1,410. That is lower than the Kern County average of 0.912%.

What is the average home price in Wofford Heights?

The median owner-occupied home value in Wofford Heights, California is $196,600, against $310,600 across Kern County.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Wofford Heights?

Median gross rent in Wofford Heights is $921 a month, against $1,692 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 Wofford Heights — US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
  • Homeowners insurance — NAIC average premium for California.
  • 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