Rent vs buy in Buckeye, AZ
In Buckeye, Arizona, the usual rent is $1,978 /mo and the usual home price is $391,189.
Over 7 years, buying comes out ahead by $29k
Today's mortgage rate and 20% down are applied to Buckeye's usual rent and home value. You'll break even in year 5.
Our view, clearly marked, with the math shown. These are estimates, not quotes. Adjust any figure and the stamp updates.
- Owning is ahead by
- $29k after 7 years
- Break-even point
- Year 5 when owning catches up
- Real cost of owning
- $3,240 /mo year 1, against $1,978 rent
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Its stamp relies on Buckeye's usual figures for rent and home value. Your own figures for rent, price and years can change the result.
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Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Buckeye?
Over 7 years, buying costs $28,803 less, including the money you get back from selling. In year 5, owning's net cost falls under renting's and remains lower.
The renting option. The owning option. Net cost to date, organized by year.
Average rent compared with mortgage payment in Buckeye
Rent and the mortgage don't tell the whole story. At Buckeye's typical price, here are all monthly costs for year 1.
| Each month, year 1 | Amount | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Rent | $1,978 | All of it, every month |
| Mortgage payment | $2,133 | $1,880 of it is interest in year 1 |
| Property tax | $163 | 0.5% of the value a year |
| Insurance | $72 | Census median for the city |
| Upkeep | $326 | 1% of the value a year |
| Owning, cash out | $2,694 | $253 of it builds equity |
| Lost return on the down payment | $636 | At 8.3% a year, that's what the cash would bring in |
| Buying costs, spread out | $163 | 3.5% of the price over 7 years |
| True cost of owning | $3,240 | Cash out minus the equity share, plus the two lines above |
Buckeye's verdict, explained by the numbers
- Typical home valueSource: Zillow ZHVI, September 2026
- $391,189
- Typical rentSource: Zillow ZORI, September 2026
- $1,978 each month
- A 20% down payment avoids private mortgage insurance. The engine doesn't model that.
- 20%
- Mortgage rate source: Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, series FRED MORTGAGE30US
- 7.24%
- Growth in home pricesFHFA house price index, Arizona, 1995 to 2025
- Each year: 5.2%
- Growth in rent from CPI for primary residence rent, yearly growth 2006 to 2026
- Each year: 3.5%
- Savings return60% S&P 500 with dividends plus 40% 10-year Treasuries, rebalanced each year, 1928 to 2025
- A yearly rate of 8.3%
- Property tax Census ACS 2020-2024, Buckeye
- 0.5% of the value
- Home insurance Census ACS 2020-2024, Buckeye
- $72 a month
- Maintenance Fannie Mae, low end of 1% to 4%
- Each year, 1% of value
- Cost of buyingFreddie Mac, midpoint of 2% to 5%
- 3.5% of the purchase price
- Selling costs Agent commission plus closing costs
- 6% of the price
What could change the result in Buckeye?
Each line marks where Buckeye's 7-year verdict flips, while everything else stays as it is.
When renting comes out ahead
- Home prices rise by less than 4.3% a year (our figure is 5.2%, Arizona's long-run rate).
- That mortgage rate remains above 8.54%.
- Less than $1,670 a month for a home like this (the local typical rent is $1,978).
- Your move comes before year 5.
Buying comes out ahead when
- Home prices grow by more than 4.3% a year.
- You secure a rate below 8.54% for the mortgage (today's is 7.24%).
- The same home would cost you over $1,670 a month to rent.
- You remain for 5 years or longer.
How Buckeye compares with the other 812 cities
| Measure | Buckeye | Median city |
|---|---|---|
| Typical home value | $391,189 | $422,451 |
| Typical rent | $1,978 /mo | $1,837 /mo |
| Price-to-rent ratio | 16.5 (#518 of 813) | 18.5 |
| Home prices, last 10 years | 6.8% a year | 6.2% a year |
| Rents, last 5 years | 2.4% a year | 4% a year |
| Property tax | 0.50% | 0.87% |
| Households that rent | 14% | 42% |
Sources: Zillow ZHVI, ZORI, Census ACS 2020-2024.
Other Arizona cities
- Rent. Phoenix, AZ: renting comes out ahead by $14k.
- It's close. Tucson, AZ. Buying leads by $672, though the result is nearly even.
- Rent. Mesa, AZ. Renting is ahead by $24k.
- Rent. Gilbert, AZ. Renting is ahead by $26k.
- Rent. Chandler, AZ. Renting is ahead by $25k.
- Rent. Glendale, AZ. Renting is ahead by $17k.
- Rent. Scottsdale, AZ. Renting is ahead by $129k.
- Rent. Peoria, AZ. Renting is ahead by $17k.
- Rent. Tempe, AZ. Renting is ahead by $31k.
- Buy. Surprise, AZ. Buying is ahead by $18k.
- Rent. Goodyear, AZ. Here renting is ahead by $28k.
- Buy. Yuma, AZ. Here, buying is ahead by $11k.