Cost to Own
United States › North Carolina › Wake County › Zebulon Population 7,961 Data vintage ACS 2023 5-Year Rates updated 2026-10-29
Before you budget for Zebulon FEMA rates natural hazard risk in Wake County Relatively High, with hail its highest-ranked hazard against other US counties. It shapes what insurers charge here. See what threatens homes in this county

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in Zebulon, North Carolina

A $275,000 home here costs

$2,247

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 $96,500 a year.

P&I 67%Tax 9%Insurance 4%Utilities 10%Upkeep 10%

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,499. The real number is $748 higher every month, 50% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

Compare Wake County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown

Zebulon median: $275,400
Under 20% adds PMI
Freddie Mac PMMS
NC 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, $220,000 borrowed $1,499
Property tax0.870% effective rate for Zebulon itself $199
Homeowners insuranceNorth Carolina averages $1,192/yr (NAIC), or 0.435% of home value $100
Electricity14.95ยข/kWh, North Carolina residential average, EIA $152
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $229
Total monthly $2,247

Zebulon against Wake County and North Carolina

MeasureZebulonWake County
Median home value$275,400$422,800
Median property tax$2,395$3,023
Effective tax rate0.870%0.715%
Median gross rent$1,038$1,508
Population7,9611,151,009

Zebulon extends across 2 counties. Figures here use Wake County, where most of its housing sits.

The weather behind that power bill

Zebulon sits in Wake County, which averages a high of 90.6°F in its hottest month and a low of 31.6°F in its coldest, with 49.36" of precipitation a year and 31% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 1,779 cooling and 3,165 heating degree days, which is what sets the $152 electricity line above.

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

Other cities in Wake County

Full Wake County cost breakdown · Every county in North Carolina

Talk to someone who works this market

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

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

Common questions

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

A $275,000 home in Zebulon, North Carolina costs approximately $2,247 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $1,499 principal and interest, $199 property tax, $100 homeowners insurance, $220 utilities and $229 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in Zebulon?

Zebulon has an effective property tax rate of 0.870%, based on a median home value of $275,400 and median real estate taxes of $2,395. That is higher than the Wake County average of 0.715%.

What is the average home price in Zebulon?

The median owner-occupied home value in Zebulon, North Carolina is $275,400, against $422,800 across Wake County.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Zebulon?

Median gross rent in Zebulon is $1,038 a month, against $2,247 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 Zebulon?

Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Zebulon, North Carolina at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $96,500 a year. That covers the full $2,247 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.

Sources & methodology

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