How to Read This Page
A median home price is not the same as a typical monthly payment. Two states can have the same sticker price and still land hundreds of dollars apart every month, because property tax rates and insurance premiums differ enormously. This page lines all three numbers up side by side so the comparison is honest.
Every figure uses one model: the state's median home price, 20% down, a 6.5% APR 30-year fixed loan, the state's effective property tax rate applied to the purchase price, and the state's average annual homeowners insurance premium. "Income needed" applies the standard 28% front-end debt-to-income rule to the resulting payment.
Northeast: Mortgage Payments by State
9 states, cheapest median home price first. Averaged across these states, the estimated payment on a median home is $3,007/month.
| State | Median Price | Est. Monthly PITI | Property Tax | Insurance | Income Needed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania | $272,299 | $1,844/mo | 1.60% | $1,245/yr | $80,000 |
| Vermont | $388,919 | $2,489/mo | 1.40% | $830/yr | $107,000 |
| Maine | $400,642 | $2,597/mo | 1.40% | $1,243/yr | $112,000 |
| Connecticut | $414,183 | $2,702/mo | 1.36% | $1,660/yr | $116,000 |
| Rhode Island | $475,865 | $3,234/mo | 1.60% | $2,324/yr | $139,000 |
| New York | $485,932 | $3,292/mo | 1.70% | $1,752/yr | $142,000 |
| New Hampshire | $487,482 | $3,322/mo | 1.90% | $1,026/yr | $143,000 |
| New Jersey | $548,338 | $3,594/mo | 1.58% | $1,194/yr | $155,000 |
| Massachusetts | $635,252 | $3,989/mo | 1.20% | $1,703/yr | $171,000 |
Midwest: Mortgage Payments by State
12 states, cheapest median home price first. Averaged across these states, the estimated payment on a median home is $1,861/month.
| State | Median Price | Est. Monthly PITI | Property Tax | Insurance | Income Needed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa | $219,987 | $1,570/mo | 1.50% | $2,197/yr | $68,000 |
| Kansas | $230,884 | $1,775/mo | 1.30% | $4,287/yr | $77,000 |
| Ohio | $234,906 | $1,555/mo | 1.32% | $1,303/yr | $67,000 |
| Indiana | $244,855 | $1,544/mo | 0.80% | $1,712/yr | $67,000 |
| Michigan | $248,560 | $1,744/mo | 1.50% | $2,117/yr | $75,000 |
| Missouri | $251,663 | $1,674/mo | 1.00% | $2,302/yr | $72,000 |
| Nebraska | $264,859 | $2,184/mo | 1.70% | $5,640/yr | $94,000 |
| North Dakota | $269,509 | $1,791/mo | 0.90% | $2,709/yr | $77,000 |
| Illinois | $273,186 | $1,989/mo | 1.84% | $2,265/yr | $86,000 |
| South Dakota | $308,842 | $2,150/mo | 1.30% | $3,049/yr | $93,000 |
| Wisconsin | $312,361 | $2,124/mo | 1.70% | $1,219/yr | $92,000 |
| Minnesota | $337,891 | $2,237/mo | 1.10% | $2,628/yr | $96,000 |
South: Mortgage Payments by State
17 states, cheapest median home price first. Averaged across these states, the estimated payment on a median home is $1,973/month.
| State | Median Price | Est. Monthly PITI | Property Tax | Insurance | Income Needed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Virginia | $167,589 | $1,015/mo | 0.60% | $1,009/yr | $44,000 |
| Mississippi | $181,232 | $1,300/mo | 0.70% | $3,339/yr | $56,000 |
| Louisiana | $201,100 | $1,445/mo | 0.50% | $4,135/yr | $62,000 |
| Oklahoma | $208,281 | $1,596/mo | 0.90% | $4,643/yr | $69,000 |
| Arkansas | $210,633 | $1,433/mo | 0.60% | $3,151/yr | $62,000 |
| Kentucky | $217,447 | $1,524/mo | 0.80% | $3,354/yr | $66,000 |
| Alabama | $228,669 | $1,487/mo | 0.43% | $2,989/yr | $64,000 |
| South Carolina | $298,029 | $1,829/mo | 0.50% | $2,374/yr | $79,000 |
| Texas | $303,321 | $2,320/mo | 1.80% | $3,973/yr | $100,000 |
| Tennessee | $319,167 | $1,982/mo | 0.60% | $2,499/yr | $85,000 |
| Georgia | $329,110 | $2,050/mo | 0.80% | $1,994/yr | $88,000 |
| North Carolina | $331,761 | $2,042/mo | 0.70% | $2,055/yr | $88,000 |
| Florida | $387,464 | $2,707/mo | 0.90% | $5,488/yr | $117,000 |
| Delaware | $389,974 | $2,215/mo | 0.50% | $964/yr | $95,000 |
| Virginia | $400,201 | $2,429/mo | 0.80% | $1,664/yr | $105,000 |
| Maryland | $425,692 | $2,682/mo | 1.10% | $1,671/yr | $115,000 |
| District of Columbia | $606,163 | $3,485/mo | 0.60% | $1,400/yr | $150,000 |
West: Mortgage Payments by State
13 states, cheapest median home price first. Averaged across these states, the estimated payment on a median home is $2,997/month.
| State | Median Price | Est. Monthly PITI | Property Tax | Insurance | Income Needed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Mexico | $308,031 | $1,921/mo | 0.70% | $2,205/yr | $83,000 |
| Wyoming | $357,698 | $2,037/mo | 0.40% | $1,306/yr | $88,000 |
| Alaska | $371,807 | $2,330/mo | 1.20% | $933/yr | $100,000 |
| Arizona | $429,140 | $2,511/mo | 0.43% | $2,245/yr | $108,000 |
| Nevada | $448,322 | $2,577/mo | 0.60% | $1,031/yr | $111,000 |
| Montana | $459,370 | $2,838/mo | 0.80% | $2,511/yr | $122,000 |
| Idaho | $462,014 | $2,594/mo | 0.39% | $1,293/yr | $112,000 |
| Oregon | $500,850 | $2,992/mo | 0.90% | $1,011/yr | $129,000 |
| Utah | $530,787 | $3,055/mo | 0.60% | $1,262/yr | $131,000 |
| Colorado | $551,854 | $3,284/mo | 0.50% | $3,167/yr | $141,000 |
| Washington | $603,837 | $3,632/mo | 0.90% | $1,513/yr | $156,000 |
| California | $788,920 | $4,608/mo | 0.76% | $1,429/yr | $198,000 |
| Hawaii | $841,274 | $4,587/mo | 0.33% | $1,224/yr | $197,000 |
What Actually Drives the Difference
Three inputs do almost all of the work, and only one of them is the price you see on a listing.
Home price sets the loan amount, so it drives principal and interest. It is also the number buyers negotiate, which makes it the easiest one to change. Property taxes are set by state and local assessment rules and are collected with your payment every month through escrow — in high-tax states this line alone can exceed the principal and interest on a smaller loan. Insurance is the wild card: it is repriced annually, it is heavily influenced by county-level weather and claims history, and it is the line most likely to change between the estimate you run today and the escrow analysis you get a year from now.
Down payment matters too, but differently than most people expect. Moving from 10% down to 20% removes PMI at the site-standard 0.85% of the loan per year and shrinks the loan balance at the same time. On a $400,000 home that is a genuine several-hundred-dollar monthly swing — worth checking with the PMI calculator before you assume a smaller down payment is the affordable choice.
Shop by Home Price Instead
If you already know your budget, start from the price rather than the state. Each page shows the upfront cash, monthly payment, PMI scenario and a state-by-state comparison for that exact price.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which state has the lowest mortgage payment?
West Virginia has the lowest estimated payment of any state we track: $1,015/month on its $167,589 median home with 20% down at 6.5% APR. California is the most expensive at $4,608/month — a difference of $3,593/month, or roughly $43,116/year for identical financing terms.
Which states have the highest and lowest property taxes?
Hawaii has the lowest effective property tax rate in this dataset at 0.33%, while New Hampshire is highest at 1.90%. On the same home price that spread moves the monthly payment by hundreds of dollars, which is why comparing states on sticker price alone is misleading — every table above uses each state's own tax rate and insurance average.
Where is homeowners insurance the most expensive?
Average annual premiums in this dataset run from $830 in Vermont to $5,640 in Nebraska. Insurance is the least predictable line in a mortgage payment because it is repriced every year and varies by county, roof age and claims history — always get a quote for the specific address before committing to a budget.
How are the payments on this page calculated?
Every row uses one model: the state's median home price, a 20% down payment, and a 6.5% APR 30-year fixed loan. Property tax is the state's effective rate applied to the purchase price, and insurance is the state's average annual premium divided by twelve. "Income needed" applies the 28% front-end debt-to-income rule to the total monthly payment. Below 20% down, PMI is modeled at 0.85% of the loan per year. Full assumptions are documented on our calculator methodology page.
Should I use a state page or the calculator?
Use a state page to see how a typical buyer in that market finances a median-priced home, then open the mortgage calculator with your own price, down payment, rate and term. The state page is the benchmark; the calculator is your number. If affordability is the open question, start with the affordability calculator, and if you are weighing renting instead, the rent vs buy calculator answers that directly.
Run your own numbers
Enter your price, down payment, rate and term to see your actual PITI breakdown, PMI timeline and amortization schedule.
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📖 Recommended Reading
Disclaimer: Every payment on this page is an estimate for informational purposes only. Actual payments depend on your credit score, the rate you are quoted, the assessed value of the specific property, its insurance profile, HOA dues and local tax rules. Sources: Zillow Q1 2025 (median home prices), ATTOM 2025 (effective property tax rates), Quadrant Information Services Feb 2025 (insurance premiums). Consult a qualified mortgage professional for personalized advice. See our full Disclaimer.