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Buying a home in Mason, Michigan

The typical owner-occupied home in Mason is worth about $198,000, 15% below the Michigan median of $231,600 and 40% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $3,864 a year in property taxes, about 1.95% of their home's value, higher than the Michigan rate of 1.25%. The median household earns $79,117 a year, so the median home costs 2.5 times the median income (3.2 times for Michigan). 69% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 66% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Mason at a glance

Mason Michigan U.S.
Median home value $198,000 $231,600 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $3,864 $2,904 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 1.95% 1.25% 0.94%
Median household income $79,117 $72,875 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 69% 73% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 66% 58% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $1,627 $1,569 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 18.4% 19.3% 21.0%
Median rent $1,164 $1,129 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 25.1% 30.2% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1978 1972 1980
Vacant homes 4.4% 11.8% 10.1%
Population 8,249 10,077,761 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in Mason

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Mason home of $198,000 with 20% down costs about $1,470 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $1,800, 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 $62,992 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 22% of the median Mason household income of $79,117; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $249,000.

The median rent here is $1,164 a month, so owning the median home costs about $306 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$39,600
Loan amount$158,400
Principal and interest$1,066
Property taxes (1.95% a year)$322
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$82
PMI$0
Total per month$1,470

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3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$6,930
Loan amount$194,414
Principal and interest$1,308
Property taxes (1.95% a year)$322
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$82
FHA mortgage insurance$88
Total per month$1,800

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Questions about home buying in Mason

What is the median home value in Mason?

About $198,000 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in Mason?

Homeowners pay a median $3,864 a year, which is about 1.95% 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 Mason?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $1,470 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $62,992 a year.

More about Mason

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