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Buying a home in Willow River, Minnesota

The typical owner-occupied home in Willow River is worth about $206,300, 37% below the Minnesota median of $329,300 and 38% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $1,783 a year in property taxes, about 0.86% of their home's value, lower than the Minnesota rate of 1.02%. The median household earns $58,125 a year, so the median home costs 3.5 times the median income (3.7 times for Minnesota). 63% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 71% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Willow River at a glance

Willow River Minnesota U.S.
Median home value $206,300 $329,300 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $1,783 $3,357 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 0.86% 1.02% 0.94%
Median household income $58,125 $89,062 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 63% 72% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 71% 64% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $1,386 $1,947 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 17.9% 19.7% 21.0%
Median rent $743 $1,280 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 23.7% 29.2% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1990 1979 1980
Vacant homes 15.6% 9.3% 10.1%
Population 342 5,739,445 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in Willow River

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Willow River home of $206,300 with 20% down costs about $1,344 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $1,688, 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 $57,602 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 28% of the median Willow River household income of $58,125; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $208,000.

The median rent here is $743 a month, so owning the median home costs about $601 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$41,260
Loan amount$165,040
Principal and interest$1,110
Property taxes (0.86% a year)$148
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$86
PMI$0
Total per month$1,344

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3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$7,220
Loan amount$202,563
Principal and interest$1,363
Property taxes (0.86% a year)$148
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$86
FHA mortgage insurance$91
Total per month$1,688

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Questions about home buying in Willow River

What is the median home value in Willow River?

About $206,300 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in Willow River?

Homeowners pay a median $1,783 a year, which is about 0.86% 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 Willow River?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $1,344 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $57,602 a year.

More about Willow River

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