Rent vs buy in Plymouth, MN
In Plymouth, Minnesota, the typical rent is $1,907 /mo and the typical home costs $505,176.
Over 7 years, renting comes out $88k ahead
The figures combine Plymouth's typical rent with its typical home value, 20% down and today's mortgage rate. No break-even point occurs within 30 years.
Our clearly labeled opinion includes the math. These are estimates, not quotes. Adjust any figure, and the stamp updates.
- Ahead with renting
- $88k after 7 years
- Break-even point
- 30 years or more owning never catches up sooner
- Actual ownership cost
- $4,472 each month year 1, against $1,907 rent
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Plymouth's typical rent and home value are used in the stamp. Your rent, price and years can change the result.
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Is renting or buying cheaper in Plymouth?
After counting the money returned when you sell, renting costs $88,022 less over 7 years. During every year displayed, renting's net cost is lower than owning's, and owning fails to catch up during 30 years.
Renting. Cost of owning. Net cost to date, for each year.
How average rent compares with mortgage payments in Plymouth
Rent and mortgage payments don't cover the whole cost. At Plymouth's typical price, here are all monthly costs in year 1.
| Each month, year 1 | Amount | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Rent | $1,907 | All of it, every month |
| Mortgage payment | $2,754 | $2,428 of it is interest in year 1 |
| Property tax | $442 | 1.05% of the value a year |
| Insurance | $150 | Census median for the city |
| Upkeep | $421 | 1% of the value a year |
| Owning, cash out | $3,767 | $327 of it builds equity |
| Lost return on the down payment | $821 | The cash would earn 8.3% each year |
| Buying costs, spread out | $210 | 3.5% of the price over 7 years |
| True cost of owning | $4,472 | Cash paid out, minus the equity amount, plus the two lines above |
The math behind the Plymouth verdict
- Typical home valueZillow ZHVI, September 2026
- $505,176
- Typical rentZillow ZORI, September 2026
- $1,907 /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, Plymouth
- 1.05% of value
- Home insuranceCensus ACS 2020-2024, Plymouth
- $150 /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 flip the result in Plymouth?
Every line shows where Plymouth's 7-year verdict changes, while all other details remain unchanged.
When renting comes out ahead
- Our calculation uses 4.3% for Minnesota's long-run rate when home prices rise by less than 6.4% each year.
- The mortgage rate remains above 4.12%.
- For a similar home, monthly rent is less than $2,850 (the typical rent here is $1,907).
- Moving at any point during the next 30 years means owning never catches up at these numbers.
When buying comes out ahead
- Home prices grow by more than 6.4% each year.
- You lock a mortgage rate under 4.12%. Today's rate is 7.24%.
- The same home would cost over $2,850 a month to rent.
How Plymouth compares with the other 812 cities
| Measure | Plymouth | Median city |
|---|---|---|
| Typical home value | $505,176 | $422,451 |
| Typical rent | $1,907 /mo | $1,837 /mo |
| Price-to-rent ratio | 22.1 (#241 of 813) | 18.5 |
| Home prices, last 10 years | 4.4% a year | 6.2% a year |
| Rents, last 5 years | 3.3% a year | 4% a year |
| Property tax | 1.05% | 0.87% |
| Households that rent | 25% | 42% |
Sources: Zillow ZHVI and ZORI, Census ACS 2020-2024.
More cities in Minnesota
- Rent. Minneapolis MN. Renting comes out $17k ahead.
- Rent. St. Paul in Minnesota. Renting comes out $21k ahead.
- Rent. Rochester in Minnesota. Renting comes out $32k ahead.
- Rent. Bloomington in Minnesota. Renting comes out $35k ahead.
- Rent. Duluth in Minnesota. Renting comes out $28k ahead.
- Rent. Brooklyn Park, MN. Renting is ahead by $41k.
- Rent. Woodbury in Minnesota. Renting comes out $37k ahead.
- Rent. Lakeville in Minnesota. Renting comes out $58k ahead.
- Rent. Blaine in Minnesota. Renting comes out $6k ahead.
- Rent. Maple Grove, MN. Renting is ahead by $20k.
- Rent. St. Cloud in Minnesota. Renting comes out $22k ahead.
- Rent. Eagan in Minnesota. Renting comes out $52k ahead.