Rent vs buy in Port Orange, FL
In Port Orange, Florida, typical rent is $1,727 /mo and a typical home costs $339,343.
Over 7 years, buying comes out ahead by $15k.
Using 20% down and today's mortgage rate, with Port Orange's usual rent and home value. Break-even point: year 6.
Clearly labeled opinion, with the math shown. These figures are estimates, not quotes. Adjust a number, and the stamp adjusts with it.
- Owning leads by
- $15k after 7 years
- Break-even point
- At year 6 when owning catches up
- Actual cost of owning
- $3,001 each month year 1, against $1,727 rent
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The stamp is based on typical rent and home value figures for Port Orange's market. The outcome can change with your rent, home price and number of years.
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Would renting or buying cost less in Port Orange?
Buying costs $14,660 less than renting over 7 years, including the money returned to you when you sell. In year 6, owning's net cost falls below renting's and remains lower.
Renting option. Owning option. Net cost by year so far.
Average rent compared with mortgage payments in Port Orange
At Port Orange's typical price, these are all monthly costs for year 1. Rent and mortgage payments make up only part of the total.
| Each month, year 1 | Amount | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Rent | $1,727 | All of it, every month |
| Mortgage payment | $1,850 | $1,631 of it is interest in year 1 |
| Property tax | $221 | 0.78% of the value a year |
| Insurance | $174 | Census median for the city |
| Upkeep | $283 | 1% of the value a year |
| Owning, cash out | $2,527 | $219 of it builds equity |
| Lost return on the down payment | $552 | What would the cash earn at 8.3% a year? |
| Buying costs, spread out | $141 | 3.5% of the price over 7 years |
| True cost of owning | $3,001 | Cash out, subtract the equity part, then add the two lines above. |
Numbers behind the Port Orange verdict
- Typical home valueZillow ZHVI, September 2026
- $339,343
- Typical rentZillow ZORI, September 2026
- $1,727 /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, Port Orange
- 0.78% of value
- Home insuranceCensus ACS 2020-2024, Port Orange
- $174 /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
In Port Orange, what would make the result flip?
Each line marks where the 7-year Port Orange verdict shifts, with everything else kept unchanged.
Renting becomes the better choice when
- Home prices increase by less than 4.9% each year. We use Florida's long-run rate of 5.4%.
- The mortgage rate remains higher than 8.00%.
- A comparable home rents for under $1,570 monthly. The typical rent here is $1,727.
- Your move happens before year 6.
Buying becomes the better choice when
- Home prices rise by more than 4.9% each year.
- You lock in a mortgage rate under 8.00% (today's is 7.24%).
- If you rented the same home, your monthly cost would exceed $1,570.
- Your stay lasts 6 years or more.
How Port Orange compares with 812 other cities
| Measure | Port Orange | Median city |
|---|---|---|
| Typical home value | $339,343 | $422,451 |
| Typical rent | $1,727 /mo | $1,837 /mo |
| Price-to-rent ratio | 16.4 (#529 of 813) | 18.5 |
| Home prices, last 10 years | 5.7% a year | 6.2% a year |
| Rents, last 5 years | 1.4% a year | 4% a year |
| Property tax | 0.78% | 0.87% |
| Households that rent | 24% | 42% |
Sources: Zillow ZHVI and ZORI, Census ACS 2020-2024.
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