Rent vs buy in Taunton, MA
In Taunton, Massachusetts, the typical rent is $2,069 /mo and the typical home value is $517,477.
Renting wins by $42 thousand over 7 years.
Today's mortgage rate applies alongside 20% down and Taunton's typical rent and home value. Year 13 is the break-even point.
Clearly labelled opinion with the math shown. Estimates, not quotes. Adjust one number, and the stamp will change.
- Rent leads by
- $42k after 7 years
- Break-even point
- year 13 when owning catches up
- The true cost of owning
- $4,535 /mo year 1, against $2,069 rent
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In Taunton, is it cheaper to rent or buy?
Once you count the money returned when you sell, renting is cheaper by $41,565 over 7 years. For the first 12 years, renting costs less. In year 13, owning catches up.
Rent. Buy. Net cost through each year.
Taunton's average rent compared with its mortgage payment
Rent and the mortgage don't tell the full story. At Taunton's typical price, the figures cover every monthly cost in year 1.
| Each month, year 1 | Amount | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Rent | $2,069 | All of it, every month |
| Mortgage payment | $2,821 | $2,487 of it is interest in year 1 |
| Property tax | $444 | 1.03% of the value a year |
| Insurance | $116 | Census median for the city |
| Upkeep | $431 | 1% of the value a year |
| Owning, cash out | $3,813 | $335 of it builds equity |
| Lost return on the down payment | $841 | Each year, the cash would earn 8.3%. |
| Buying costs, spread out | $216 | 3.5% of the price over 7 years |
| True cost of owning | $4,535 | Cash out, minus the equity portion, plus the two entries above |
Numbers behind Taunton's verdict
- Typical home valueZillow ZHVI, September 2026
- $517,477
- Typical rentZillow ZORI, September 2026
- $2,069 /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, Massachusetts, 1995 to 2025
- 5.1% 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, Taunton
- 1.03% of value
- Home insuranceCensus ACS 2020-2024, Taunton
- $116 /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 reverse this result in Taunton?
The 7-year verdict for Taunton changes at each point below, while all other values stay the same.
When renting wins
- Home prices grow by less than 6.0% each year. We apply 5.1%, Massachusetts's long-term rate.
- The mortgage rate remains above 5.81%.
- This kind of home has a monthly rent below $2,510 (the local typical rent is $2,069).
- Before year 13, you move.
When buying wins
- Home prices rise by more than 6.0% each year.
- Today's mortgage rate is 7.24%, and you lock one below 5.81%.
- You would pay more than $2,510 a month to rent the same home.
- Your stay lasts at least 13 years.
How Taunton compares with the other 812 cities
| Measure | Taunton | Median city |
|---|---|---|
| Typical home value | $517,477 | $422,451 |
| Typical rent | $2,069 /mo | $1,837 /mo |
| Price-to-rent ratio | 20.8 (#294 of 813) | 18.5 |
| Home prices, last 10 years | 7% a year | 6.2% a year |
| Property tax | 1.03% | 0.87% |
| Households that rent | 38% | 42% |
Sources: Zillow ZHVI and ZORI, Census ACS 2020-2024.
More cities across Massachusetts
- For Boston, MA, renting comes out ahead by $10k overall.
- For Worcester, MA, renting comes out ahead by $8k overall.
- For Springfield, MA, buying comes out ahead by $18k overall.
- For Cambridge, MA, renting comes out ahead by $83k overall.
- For Lowell, MA, renting comes out ahead by $9k overall.
- For Brockton, MA, renting comes out ahead by $19k overall.
- For Lynn, MA, renting comes out ahead by $45k overall.
- For Quincy, MA, renting comes out ahead by $51k overall.
- For New Bedford, MA, renting comes out ahead by $40k overall.
- For Fall River, MA, renting comes out ahead by $29k overall.
- For Newton, MA, renting comes out ahead by $317k overall.
- For Lawrence, MA, it's close, but renting leads by $2k overall.