The real cost of homeownership.
Property taxes, insurance, utilities, flood risk, and rent-vs-buy analysis, for the county you actually live in. Backed by Census, FEMA, FHFA, IRS, and DOE data.
Search by county name. Over 3,000 counties covered.
National snapshot
Averages across U.S. states (source: Census ACS, FHFA HPI).
Most expensive counties
Ranked by median home value (Census ACS).
Most affordable counties
Lowest owner cost as share of income (Census ACS).
- TexasGlasscock County9.0%owner cost share of income
- TexasBailey County12.5%owner cost share of income
- NebraskaThomas County9.0%owner cost share of income
- North DakotaBurke County9.0%owner cost share of income
- ArizonaGreenlee County10.4%owner cost share of income
- AlaskaLake and Peninsula Borough11.3%owner cost share of income
- TexasWinkler County9.0%owner cost share of income
- AlaskaKusilvak Census Area12.5%owner cost share of income
Rent vs. buy, for your market
Most rent-vs-buy calculators use national assumptions. Ours pulls real county property taxes, HUD fair market rents, DOE utility costs, and current FRED mortgage rates. Enter a few details; see the break-even year.
- Median home value → local Census ACS
- Median rent → HUD Fair Market Rents
- Property tax rate → local Census property tax
- Mortgage rate → current FRED 30-year fixed
- Energy → DOE EIA state averages
Calculators
Browse by state
Home values, property taxes, energy costs, and appreciation.
- Alabama$140,207
- Alaska$252,357
- Arizona$217,293
- Arkansas$124,300
- California$534,350
- Colorado$359,531
- Connecticut$335,222
- Delaware$302,900
- District of Columbia$705,000
- Florida$231,560
- Georgia$165,626
- Hawaii$707,525
- Idaho$273,573
- Illinois$139,829
- Indiana$164,273
- Iowa$149,558
- Kansas$124,449
- Kentucky$139,648
- Louisiana$154,388
- Maine$215,438
- Maryland$333,004
- Massachusetts$543,707
- Michigan$168,482
- Minnesota$207,495
- Mississippi$120,972
- Missouri$151,083
- Montana$229,793
- Nebraska$141,087
- Nevada$266,259
- New Hampshire$287,100
- New Jersey$378,657
- New Mexico$169,015
- New York$253,185
- North Carolina$194,595
- North Dakota$162,140
- Ohio$169,108
- Oklahoma$132,219
- Oregon$323,097
- Pennsylvania$187,894
- Rhode Island$399,980
- South Carolina$165,220
- South Dakota$152,567
- Tennessee$182,359
- Texas$158,253
- Utah$337,238
- Vermont$254,557
- Virginia$261,678
- Washington$361,767
- West Virginia$133,593
- Wisconsin$202,124
- Wyoming$291,909
Latest guides
- Worst States for Property Tax
Worst States for Property Tax: Where Homeowners Pay the Most Property taxes represent one of the largest recurring costs of homeownership, and where you live dramatically affects how much you pay. A handful of states consistently impose effective property tax rates that are two to three times the national median. Understanding which states carry the […]
- Best States for Homeowners
Best States for Homeowners: A Data-Driven Overview The “best” state for homeownership depends heavily on your priorities: affordability, property tax burden, insurance costs, climate risk, home value appreciation, or overall cost of living. No single state wins on every metric. This guide examines key factors that typically influence the homeownership experience across the United States […]
- Reverse Mortgage: Risks and Tradeoffs
Reverse Mortgage: Risks and Tradeoffs, a Summary A reverse mortgage allows homeowners, typically aged 62 or older, to convert a portion of their home equity into cash without making monthly mortgage payments. The most common type, the Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM), is federally insured through HUD’s Federal Housing Administration. While this financial tool can […]
Why trust HomeRule
Census ACS, FEMA NFIP, FHFA HPI, IRS SOI, DOE EIA, HUD FMR. We link to the source on every page.
National averages hide the costs that matter. HomeRule pulls data to the county where you actually live.
We show when owning costs more than renting. We use qualifying language on estimates. We do not give personalized advice.