Rent vs buy in Bradenton, FL
In Bradenton, Florida, the typical rent is $1,768 /mo and the typical home value is $351,538.
Over 7 years, buying comes out $15k ahead.
A 20% down payment and today's mortgage rate are paired with Bradenton's typical rent and home value. The break-even point falls in year 6.
Clearly labeled opinion, with the math shown. These are estimates rather than quotes. Your stamp changes when you change a number.
- Owning leads by
- $15k after 7 years
- When costs balance
- year 6 when owning catches up
- Actual cost of ownership
- Per month: $3,084 year 1, against $1,768 rent
Change my numbers
The stamp takes Bradenton's figures for typical rent and home value. Changing your rent, price or years can reverse it.
Are your figures different from the city's?
Enter the rent, price and down payment you want to use. The stamp updates with them.
Between renting and buying, which costs less in Bradenton?
Across 7 years, buying costs $15,455 less, including the money returned to you after you sell. In year 6, owning's net cost falls below renting's and remains lower.
Renting option. Home ownership. Running net cost by year.
Average rent compared with mortgage payment in Bradenton
Using Bradenton's typical price, you can see all monthly costs in year 1, including rent and the mortgage.
| Each month, year 1 | Amount | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Rent | $1,768 | All of it, every month |
| Mortgage payment | $1,917 | $1,689 of it is interest in year 1 |
| Property tax | $220 | 0.75% of the value a year |
| Insurance | $164 | Census median for the city |
| Upkeep | $293 | 1% of the value a year |
| Owning, cash out | $2,593 | $227 of it builds equity |
| Lost return on the down payment | $571 | The yearly return on your cash at 8.3% |
| Buying costs, spread out | $146 | 3.5% of the price over 7 years |
| True cost of owning | $3,084 | Cash out minus the equity portion, plus the two lines above |
The Bradenton figures behind the verdict
- Typical home valueZillow ZHVI, September 2026
- $351,538
- Typical rentZillow ZORI, September 2026
- $1,768 /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, Florida, 1995 to 2025
- 5.4% 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, Bradenton
- 0.75% of value
- Home insuranceCensus ACS 2020-2024, Bradenton
- $164 /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 could change the Bradenton result?
Each line marks a turning point for Bradenton's 7-year result; all other settings stay unchanged.
When renting costs less
- Home price growth stays below 4.9% each year (our calculation relies on 5.4%, Florida's long-run rate).
- For the mortgage, the rate stays above 8.02%.
- Monthly rent for a home like this is under $1,600 (typical here: $1,768).
- Before year 6, you move.
When buying costs less
- Home prices rise by more than 4.9% a year.
- You lock in the mortgage rate under 8.02% (today's is 7.24%).
- The same home would cost more than $1,600 a month to rent.
- You remain in the home for 6 years or more.
How Bradenton compares with 812 other cities
| Measure | Bradenton | Median city |
|---|---|---|
| Typical home value | $351,538 | $422,451 |
| Typical rent | $1,768 /mo | $1,837 /mo |
| Price-to-rent ratio | 16.6 (#511 of 813) | 18.5 |
| Home prices, last 10 years | 5.7% a year | 6.2% a year |
| Rents, last 5 years | 1.7% a year | 4% a year |
| Property tax | 0.75% | 0.87% |
| Households that rent | 44% | 42% |
Sources: Zillow ZHVI and ZORI, Census ACS 2020-2024.
More cities in Florida
- Buy. Jacksonville, FL. Buying saves $27k.
- Buy. Miami, FL. Buying saves $27k.
- Buy. Tampa, FL. Buying saves $19k.
- Buy. Orlando, FL. Buying saves $17k.
- Buy. St. Petersburg, FL. Buying saves $41k.
- Buy. Port St. Lucie, FL. Buying saves $48k.
- Buy. Hialeah, FL. Buying saves $37k.
- Buy. Cape Coral, FL. Buying saves $36k.
- Buy. Tallahassee, FL. Buying saves $11k.
- Buy. Fort Lauderdale, FL. Buying saves $25k.
- Buy. Pembroke Pines, FL. Buying saves $22k.
- Buy. Hollywood, FL. Buying leads by $17k.