Data as of August 30, 2026. Every payment on this page is computed with the same amortization engine that powers our amortization calculator — sources and method at the bottom. Journalists: you may cite any figure with attribution to MoneyCrunchLab; we can run custom scenarios on request, usually within the hour (hello@moneycrunchlab.com).
Payment on the median home, by down payment
Median existing-home price: $440,600 (NAR, June 2026 — an all-time high). Rate: 6.66%, 30-year fixed (Freddie Mac PMMS, August 27, 2026).
| Down payment | Loan amount | Monthly P&I | Total interest over 30 years |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5% ($22,030) | $418,570 | $2,690 | $549,774 |
| 10% ($44,060) | $396,540 | $2,548 | $520,838 |
| 20% ($88,120) | $352,480 | $2,265 | $462,967 |
These figures are principal and interest only. Property taxes, homeowners insurance, PMI (required below 20% down on most conventional loans), and HOA dues come on top — together they commonly add several hundred dollars a month.
Average payment by home price
All rows: 20% down, 30-year fixed at 6.66%.
| Home price | Monthly P&I | Total interest over 30 years |
|---|---|---|
| $250,000 | $1,285 | $262,691 |
| $300,000 | $1,542 | $315,230 |
| $350,000 | $1,799 | $367,768 |
| $400,000 | $2,056 | $420,306 |
| $440,600 (median) | $2,265 | $462,967 |
| $500,000 | $2,571 | $525,383 |
| $600,000 | $3,085 | $630,459 |
| $750,000 | $3,856 | $788,074 |
How much the rate matters
Median-priced home, 20% down ($352,480 loan), 30-year term:
| Rate | Monthly P&I | Total interest over 30 years |
|---|---|---|
| 5.00% | $1,892 | $328,708 |
| 5.50% | $2,001 | $368,003 |
| 6.00% | $2,113 | $408,306 |
| 6.66% (current) | $2,265 | $462,967 |
| 7.00% | $2,345 | $491,741 |
| 7.50% | $2,465 | $534,773 |
Each half-point of rate moves the median payment by roughly $110–$120 a month — and by $40,000–$45,000 in lifetime interest. A year ago the 30-year rate averaged 6.56% (PMMS, August 28, 2025); the same median loan cost $2,242 a month then, so today’s buyer pays about $23 more per month than a year ago on an identical loan — while the record-high price pushes the total in the other direction.
On a 15-year term at the current 5.98% (PMMS), the same 20%-down median loan costs $2,971 a month — $706 more than the 30-year — but total interest falls from $462,967 to $182,231. Compare both on our 15 vs. 30 year calculator.
Run your own numbers
Your payment depends on your price, rate, and down payment — not the averages. The home affordability calculator computes your budget by the 28/36 rule with taxes and insurance counted, and the amortization schedule calculator unpacks any loan year by year.
Methodology & sources
- Payments are computed with the standard fixed-rate amortization formula (monthly compounding), the same engine as our public calculators. Figures are principal & interest only, rounded to the nearest dollar.
- Median existing-home price: $440,600, June 2026 — National Association of Realtors, Existing-Home Sales (July 2026 release).
- Mortgage rates: 30-year 6.66%, 15-year 5.98%, week of August 27, 2026; 30-year one year ago 6.56% — Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey.
- Page last reviewed: August 30, 2026. We re-check these figures when the underlying sources publish new data.
Cite as: “MoneyCrunchLab analysis of Freddie Mac PMMS and NAR data, updated August 2026.”