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Buying a home in Oberlin, Kansas

The typical owner-occupied home in Oberlin is worth about $88,700, 59% below the Kansas median of $217,200 and 73% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $1,789 a year in property taxes, about 2.02% of their home's value, higher than the Kansas rate of 1.29%. The median household earns $52,284 a year, so the median home costs 1.7 times the median income (2.9 times for Kansas). 77% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 33% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Oberlin at a glance

Oberlin Kansas U.S.
Median home value $88,700 $217,200 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $1,789 $2,798 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 2.02% 1.29% 0.94%
Median household income $52,284 $74,275 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 77% 67% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 33% 57% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $1,043 $1,689 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 18.9% 19.4% 21.0%
Median rent $593 $1,060 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 27.0% 27.1% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1956 1976 1980
Vacant homes 20.2% 9.2% 10.1%
Population 1,734 2,947,197 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in Oberlin

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Oberlin home of $88,700 with 20% down costs about $664 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $811, because the loan is bigger and FHA adds mortgage insurance.

Lenders usually want housing costs under about 28% of gross income, which means an income of roughly $28,441 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 15% of the median Oberlin household income of $52,284; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $163,000.

The median rent here is $593 a month, so owning the median home costs about $71 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$17,740
Loan amount$70,960
Principal and interest$477
Property taxes (2.02% a year)$149
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$37
PMI$0
Total per month$664

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3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$3,104
Loan amount$87,093
Principal and interest$586
Property taxes (2.02% a year)$149
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$37
FHA mortgage insurance$39
Total per month$811

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Questions about home buying in Oberlin

What is the median home value in Oberlin?

About $88,700 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in Oberlin?

Homeowners pay a median $1,789 a year, which is about 2.02% of the median home value. Your bill depends on your home's assessed value and local rates.

What income do you need to buy a home in Oberlin?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $664 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $28,441 a year.

More about Oberlin

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week of November 12, 2026. Estimates for small places have wide margins of error. About our data