Cost to Own

Methodology & sources

Every figure on this site comes from a named public dataset, or is a clearly labelled model assumption you can change. Nothing is scraped from listings and nothing is estimated where a published figure exists.

What comes from published data

  • Median home value, real estate taxes paid, gross rent, occupied units, population, US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year (tables B25077, B25103, B25064, B25003, B01003). Updated each December.
  • Effective property tax rate: median real estate taxes paid divided by median home value. This is the standard published methodology and matches how the Census Bureau and Tax Foundation express county tax burden.
  • Mortgage rates: Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, refreshed weekly.
  • Residential electricity price: US Energy Information Administration, Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A, by state.

What is modelled

Three line items have no county-level public dataset, so they are national estimates. They are shown as editable inputs and are excluded from any ranking on this site.

  • Homeowners insurance: the NAIC average annual premium for the state, expressed as a share of that state's median home value and applied to the price you enter. This ranges from 0.16% in Hawaii to 1.16% in Oklahoma, because premiums track rebuild cost and hazard rather than land value. California and Texas report through their own insurance departments rather than to NAIC. A quote for a specific house will still differ with roof age, claims history and coverage.
  • Maintenance reserve: 1% of home value per year, the conventional planning figure. Older homes run higher.
  • Water, sewer and trash: a flat US household average.
  • Electricity: both the price per kWh and the average household consumption are state-specific EIA figures (2024 sales, revenue and customer data). Your own usage depends on the house.

Known limitations

Effective tax rates are county-wide medians. Individual bills vary by municipality, school district and any exemption you have filed. Always confirm with the county assessor before relying on a figure. ACS estimates for small counties carry wide margins of error.