Rent vs buy in Rochester Hills, MI
The typical rent in Rochester Hills, Michigan, is $1,772 a month, while the typical home costs $465,990.
Renting comes out ahead by $98k across 7 years
The figures use Rochester Hills's typical home value and rent, a 20% down payment and today's mortgage rate. There is no break-even within 30 years.
Our clearly labeled opinion shows the math. These are estimates, not quotes. The stamp changes whenever you change a number.
- Lead for renting
- $98k after 7 years
- Break-even point
- 30 years or more owning never catches up sooner
- Full cost of ownership
- Per month: $4,115 year 1, against $1,772 rent
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In Rochester Hills, which costs less, renting or buying?
Across 7 years, renting costs $97,688 less, including the money you get back when you sell. For every year shown, renting's net cost remains under owning's. Owning never catches up within 30 years.
The renting option. The owning option. Net cost by year so far
Rochester Hills: average rent compared with mortgage payment
At Rochester Hills's typical price, you also have monthly costs besides rent and the mortgage in year 1. Here is the full list.
| Each month, year 1 | Amount | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Rent | $1,772 | All of it, every month |
| Mortgage payment | $2,541 | $2,239 of it is interest in year 1 |
| Property tax | $431 | 1.11% of the value a year |
| Insurance | $105 | Census median for the city |
| Upkeep | $388 | 1% of the value a year |
| Owning, cash out | $3,465 | $301 of it builds equity |
| Lost return on the down payment | $757 | Annual return on the cash at 8.3% |
| Buying costs, spread out | $194 | 3.5% of the price over 7 years |
| True cost of owning | $4,115 | Cash out, minus the equity part, then add both items listed above |
Rochester Hills verdict: the numbers behind it
- Typical home valueZillow ZHVI, September 2026
- $465,990
- Typical rentZillow ZORI, September 2026
- $1,772 /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, Michigan, 1995 to 2025
- 3.8% 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, Rochester Hills
- 1.11% of value
- Home insuranceCensus ACS 2020-2024, Rochester Hills
- $105 /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 cause the outcome in Rochester Hills to flip?
Each line marks where Rochester Hills's 7-year verdict changes. All other factors stay as they are.
Renting is ahead when
- The annual home price growth rate stays below 6.3%; our calculation uses 3.8%, Michigan's long-run rate.
- A mortgage rate above 3.46% remains in place.
- Less than $2,820 a month is what a home like this rents for, and the typical rent here is $1,772.
- If you move at any point during the next 30 years, owning still won't catch up with these numbers.
Buying is ahead when
- Home prices grow by more than 6.3% a year.
- Today's rate is 7.24%, while the rate you lock is below 3.46%.
- The monthly rent for that home would be more than $2,820 if you rented it.
How Rochester Hills compares with the other 812 cities
| Measure | Rochester Hills | Median city |
|---|---|---|
| Typical home value | $465,990 | $422,451 |
| Typical rent | $1,772 /mo | $1,837 /mo |
| Price-to-rent ratio | 21.9 (#249 of 813) | 18.5 |
| Home prices, last 10 years | 5.7% a year | 6.2% a year |
| Rents, last 5 years | 2.8% a year | 4% a year |
| Property tax | 1.11% | 0.87% |
| Households that rent | 23% | 42% |
Sources: Zillow ZHVI and ZORI, Census ACS 2020-2024.
More cities in Michigan
- Buying wins by $72k in Detroit, MI.
- Renting wins by $20k in Grand Rapids, MI.
- Buying wins by $7k in Warren, MI.
- Renting wins by $32k in Sterling Heights, MI.
- Renting wins by $124k in Ann Arbor, MI.
- It's a toss-up in Lansing, MI, with buying ahead by $2k.
- Buying wins by $18k in Dearborn, MI.
- Renting wins by $26k in Livonia, MI.
- Renting wins by $89k in Troy, MI.
- Renting wins by $95k in Farmington Hills, MI.
- Renting wins by $7k in Westland, MI.
- Buying wins by $39k in Flint, MI.