Cost to Own
United StatesMichiganSaginaw CountyZilwaukee Population 1,696 Data vintage ACS 2023 5-Year Rates updated 2026-07-30

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in Zilwaukee, Michigan

A $88,000 home here costs

$1,014

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

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $452. The real number is $561 higher every month — 124% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

Zilwaukee median: $87,900
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, $70,400 borrowed $452
Property tax2.579% effective rate for Zilwaukee itself $189
Homeowners insuranceMichigan averages $993/yr (NAIC), or 0.448% of home value $33
Electricity22.01¢/kWh — Michigan residential average, EIA $198
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $73
Total monthly $1,014

Zilwaukee against Saginaw County and Michigan

MeasureZilwaukeeSaginaw County
Median home value$87,900$139,400
Median property tax$2,267$2,190
Effective tax rate2.579%1.571%
Median gross rent$1,115$921
Population1,696189,210

The weather behind that power bill

Zilwaukee sits in Saginaw County, which averages a high of 82.2°F in its hottest month and a low of 16.4°F in its coldest, with 32.12" of precipitation a year and 31% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 631 cooling and 6,782 heating degree days, which is what sets the $198 electricity line above.

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

Other cities in Saginaw County

Full Saginaw County cost breakdown · Every county in Michigan

Common questions

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

A $88,000 home in Zilwaukee, Michigan costs approximately $1,014 per month with 20% down at 6.66%. That is $452 principal and interest, $189 property tax, $33 homeowners insurance, $266 utilities and $73 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in Zilwaukee?

Zilwaukee has an effective property tax rate of 2.579%, based on a median home value of $87,900 and median real estate taxes of $2,267. That is higher than the Saginaw County average of 1.571%.

What is the average home price in Zilwaukee?

The median owner-occupied home value in Zilwaukee, Michigan is $87,900, against $139,400 across Saginaw County.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Zilwaukee?

Median gross rent in Zilwaukee is $1,115 a month, against $1,014 to own the median home all in. Owning costs less month to month here, though renting builds no equity.

Sources & methodology

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