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Buying a home in Chilhowie, Virginia

The typical owner-occupied home in Chilhowie is worth about $153,600, 60% below the Virginia median of $383,700 and 54% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $921 a year in property taxes, about 0.60% of their home's value, lower than the Virginia rate of 0.73%. The median household earns $51,429 a year, so the median home costs 3.0 times the median income (4.1 times for Virginia). 67% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 50% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Chilhowie at a glance

Chilhowie Virginia U.S.
Median home value $153,600 $383,700 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $921 $2,790 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 0.60% 0.73% 0.94%
Median household income $51,429 $93,170 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 67% 67% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 50% 67% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $965 $2,127 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 21.7% 20.1% 21.0%
Median rent $802 $1,579 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 25.4% 29.4% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1973 1984 1980
Vacant homes 5.5% 8.7% 10.1%
Population 2,428 8,705,170 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in Chilhowie

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Chilhowie home of $153,600 with 20% down costs about $967 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $1,223, 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 $41,461 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 23% of the median Chilhowie household income of $51,429; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $191,000.

The median rent here is $802 a month, so owning the median home costs about $165 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$30,720
Loan amount$122,880
Principal and interest$827
Property taxes (0.60% a year)$77
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$64
PMI$0
Total per month$967

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3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$5,376
Loan amount$150,818
Principal and interest$1,015
Property taxes (0.60% a year)$77
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$64
FHA mortgage insurance$68
Total per month$1,223

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Questions about home buying in Chilhowie

What is the median home value in Chilhowie?

About $153,600 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in Chilhowie?

Homeowners pay a median $921 a year, which is about 0.60% 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 Chilhowie?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $967 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $41,461 a year.

More about Chilhowie

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