Rent vs buy in Blaine, MN
In Blaine, Minnesota, the typical rent is $2,064 /mo and the typical home price is $381,873.
Renting comes out $6k ahead over 7 years
Today's mortgage rate applies alongside 20% down and Blaine's typical rent and home value. The break-even point comes in year 8.
Clearly labeled opinion, with the math shown. These are estimates, not quotes. If you change a number, the stamp changes.
- Renting leads by
- $6k after 7 years
- Break-even point
- The 8th year when owning catches up
- Full cost of owning
- Per month: $3,360 year 1, against $2,064 rent
Change my numbers
Blaine's typical rent and typical home value are the figures used by the stamp. Changing the years, rent and price you enter can turn the result around.
Do your numbers differ from the city's?
Enter your own rent, price and down payment. Your entries change the stamp.
Is renting or buying cheaper in Blaine?
Renting costs $6,309 less over 7 years, including the money you get back when you sell. For the first 7 years, renting costs less. In year 8, owning catches up.
Renting. Owning. Net cost by year so far.
Blaine's average rent vs mortgage payment
Rent and the mortgage payment don't tell the whole story. Here are all monthly costs for year 1 at Blaine's typical price.
| Each month, year 1 | Amount | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Rent | $2,064 | All of it, every month |
| Mortgage payment | $2,082 | $1,835 of it is interest in year 1 |
| Property tax | $299 | 0.94% of the value a year |
| Insurance | $128 | Census median for the city |
| Upkeep | $318 | 1% of the value a year |
| Owning, cash out | $2,827 | $247 of it builds equity |
| Lost return on the down payment | $621 | The amount the cash would earn each year at 8.3% |
| Buying costs, spread out | $159 | 3.5% of the price over 7 years |
| True cost of owning | $3,360 | Cash out, subtract the equity part, then add the two lines above. |
Numbers behind the verdict in Blaine
- Typical home valueZillow ZHVI, September 2026
- $381,873
- Typical rentZillow ZORI, September 2026
- $2,064 /mo
- Down payment20% avoids private mortgage insurance, which the engine does not model
- 20%
- Mortgage rateFreddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (FRED MORTGAGE30US)
- 7.24%
- Home price growthFHFA house price index, Minnesota, 1995 to 2025
- 4.3% a year
- Rent growthCPI rent of primary residence, yearly growth 2006 to 2026
- 3.5% a year
- Return on savings60% S&P 500 with dividends and 40% 10-year Treasuries, rebalanced yearly, 1928 to 2025
- 8.3% a year
- Property taxCensus ACS 2020-2024, Blaine
- 0.94% of value
- Home insuranceCensus ACS 2020-2024, Blaine
- $128 /mo
- MaintenanceFannie Mae, low end of 1% to 4%
- 1% of value a year
- Buying costsFreddie Mac, middle of 2% to 5%
- 3.5% of price
- Selling costsAgent commission plus closing costs
- 6% of price
What would change the result in Blaine?
Each line shows where the 7-year verdict for Blaine changes, while everything else stays the same.
Renting comes out ahead when
- Our calculation uses Minnesota's long-run rate of 4.3%, while annual home price growth stays under 4.5%.
- A mortgage rate above 6.95% remains in place.
- A home like this has monthly rent below $2,130, compared with the typical $2,064 here.
- Before year 8, you move.
Buying comes out ahead when
- Home prices rise by more than 4.5% a year.
- You secure a mortgage rate under 6.95% (today's rate is 7.24%).
- The same home would cost you over $2,130 each month to rent.
- You remain in the home for 8 years or more.
Comparing Blaine with 812 other cities
| Measure | Blaine | Median city |
|---|---|---|
| Typical home value | $381,873 | $422,451 |
| Typical rent | $2,064 /mo | $1,837 /mo |
| Price-to-rent ratio | 15.4 (#602 of 813) | 18.5 |
| Home prices, last 10 years | 4.8% a year | 6.2% a year |
| Property tax | 0.94% | 0.87% |
| Households that rent | 15% | 42% |
Sources: Zillow ZHVI and ZORI, Census ACS 2020-2024.
More cities in Minnesota
- In Minneapolis, MN, renting is ahead by $17k.
- In St. Paul, MN, renting is ahead by $21k.
- In Rochester, MN, renting is ahead by $32k.
- In Bloomington, MN, renting is ahead by $35k.
- In Duluth, MN, renting is ahead by $28k.
- In Brooklyn Park, MN, renting is ahead by $41k.
- In Woodbury, MN, renting is ahead by $37k.
- In Plymouth, MN, renting is ahead by $88k.
- In Lakeville, MN, renting is ahead by $58k.
- In Maple Grove, MN, renting is ahead by $20k.
- In St. Cloud, MN, renting is ahead by $22k.
- In Eagan, MN, renting is ahead by $52k.