The Median Monthly Mortgage Payment in 2025 by State, City, and More
KEY POINTS
- Location Shapes Payments: Median mortgage costs vary widely, with D.C. at $3,181 monthly and West Virginia at $1,272.
- Income Impacts Affordability: Higher earners pay more than double in mortgage payments compared to lower earners.
- Age and Education Matter: Younger homeowners and those with higher education face larger monthly mortgage bills.
The median monthly mortgage payment in America is $2,127, as of July 2025. That steep monthly price is driven by elevated home prices and elevated interest rates.
Where you live makes a big difference in the standard mortgage payment. In the most expensive cities like San Francisco and San Jose, monthly payments top $4,000, while in the least expensive, like Kokomo, Indiana, barely crack $1,000.
Whether you're buying your first home or refinancing, using one of the best mortgage lenders can help you compare rates and lock in lower costs.
The median monthly mortgage payment in 2025: $2,127
The median monthly mortgage payment reached $2,127 in July 2025 according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.
Homeowners that purchased their home more recently have higher median mortgage payments than the overall national median, according to the Federal Reserve. The median monthly mortgage cost for those who moved in 2023 or 2024 was $2,020 compared to $1,500 overall.
Median monthly mortgage payment by state
Housing costs vary widely by state. Washington, D.C. has the highest median mortgage at $3,181, while West Virginia sits at the bottom with just $1,272, less than half the D.C. figure, according to Census Bureau data.
These state-level trends closely reflect differences in median home prices nationwide.
These are the five states with the most expensive monthly median mortgages:
- District of Columbia: $3,181
- California: $3,001
- Hawaii: $2,937
- New Jersey: $2,797
- Massachusetts: $2,755
The five states with the least expensive monthly median mortgage payment are:
- West Virginia: $1,272
- Arkansas: $1,375
- Mississippi: $1,448
- Kentucky: $1,453
- Indiana: $1,466
Here's how the median monthly mortgage payment in all 50 states stack up.
Median monthly mortgage payment by city and metro
San Francisco and San Jose homeowners have the most expensive median mortgage of over $4,000 a month, four times the median mortgage payment in Kokomo, Indiana, the metro with the least expensive mortgages, per Census Bureau data.
Seven of the 10 most expensive metros by median monthly mortgage payment are in California, highlighting the state's extreme housing costs.
Outside major cities, non-metro homeowners pay significantly less, with a median of $1,090 compared to $1,563 in metro areas, according to the Federal Reserve.
Here's a full breakdown of the metro areas with the most and least expensive median monthly mortgages payments:
Median monthly mortgage payment by age, education, and income
Median monthly mortgage payments rise and fall alongside age, education, and income -- here's how.
Age plays a clear role in the cost of mortgage payments. Homeowners aged 30 to 44 pay the most, with the median monthly mortgage of $1,650, according to the Federal Reserve. That likely reflects peak homebuying years, larger households, and perhaps more recent purchases at higher prices and rates.
Payments are slightly lower for those 45 to 59 ($1,600) and drop more among older homeowners, just $1,300 for those 60 and older. That age group has likely paid down mortgages or bought homes earlier at lower prices and rates.
Education divides mortgage costs. Homeowners with a bachelor's degree or higher have a median monthly payment of $1,800, likely due to both higher incomes and homes in more expensive markets. Those with some college or an associate's degree pay a significantly lower $1,300, while those with only a high school diploma or less pay just $1,100. The education gap reflects not just earnings power, but also housing access and loan approval odds.
Income has the starkest spread. Households earning under $25,000 pay as little as $780 per month, while those bringing in $150,000 or more pay a median of $2,000, more than double. Payments rise steadily across each income band, with a sharp jump past the $100,000 mark. This ladder reflects both buying power and property values: higher earners are purchasing more expensive homes, often in higher-cost cities or school districts.
Outro
Mortgage payments are far from uniform. Geography, income, and education affect how much people pay towards their mortgage every month in 2025.
- Homeowners in D.C. and California metros are paying over $3,000/month.
- In contrast, rural and Southern areas still offer sub-$1,300 payments.
- Young adults and lower earners face tighter budgets, but still make it work, leaving some hope for first-time home buyers.
Wherever you fall, keeping your payments manageable starts with comparing lenders, knowing your budget, and locking in a mortgage rate you can live with.
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Sources
- Census Bureau (2025). “American Community Survey.”
- Federal Reserve (2025). “Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households (SHED).”
- Mortgage Bankers Association (2025). “Mortgage Application Payments Decreased in July.”
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