CHESTER COUNTY, PA — A new review of housing expenses shows that the true cost of owning a home in Chester County continues to rise, with insurance premiums, maintenance spending, and local property taxes outpacing typical household income growth. Together, these trends mirror a national pattern identified in a new Zillow and Thumbtack analysis showing “hidden costs” eating deeper into homeowners’ budgets.
In Chester County, the average annual homeowners insurance premium sits around $1,430 — roughly in line with Pennsylvania’s statewide average of $1,440 and still below national levels. Premiums vary widely based on a home’s age, location, square footage, and the owner’s credit profile. Standard policies do not cover flood damage, a growing concern in Pennsylvania, and homeowners are encouraged to consider flood insurance if they live in a high-risk zone.
Maintenance is an even larger budget driver. Homeowners across Pennsylvania spent an average of $6,008 on upkeep in 2025. Using national benchmarks, experts recommend setting aside 1% to 4% of a home’s value each year for maintenance and repairs. Thumbtack data shows annual upkeep can exceed $10,000 when factoring in tasks such as HVAC service, roof maintenance, deck sealing, tree trimming, and appliance repairs.
Property taxes add another layer of expense. Chester County’s approved 2025 county millage rate stands at 5.164 mills — equal to $5.164 in tax for every $1,000 of assessed value. The full tax bill, however, depends on a homeowner’s municipality and school district. For example, a West Goshen property within the West Chester Area School District faces a combined millage rate of 43.7582 mills, while a homeowner in Kennett Township within the Kennett Consolidated School District faces 46.6640 mills. Millage rates across all municipalities and districts are detailed in a July 2025 county report.
Those figures align with a national picture that is becoming more challenging. Zillow and Thumbtack’s latest analysis puts the average U.S. homeowner’s hidden costs at $15,979 per year — a total that includes $10,946 in maintenance, $2,003 in insurance, and $3,030 in property taxes. Those expenses grew 4.7% in the past year, outpacing the 3.8% rise in household incomes.
Insurance premiums have surged 48% nationwide over five years, with some of the steepest increases in coastal and disaster-prone regions. Miami homeowners now pay an average of $4,607 annually — a 72% spike — while New Orleans, Sacramento, Atlanta, and Riverside have all experienced double-digit percentage jumps.
“Insurance costs are rising nearly twice as fast as homeowner incomes,” said Kara Ng, Zillow senior economist. “It’s not just a budget line item — it’s a barrier to entry for aspiring buyers and a strain on those already stretched thin.”
Zillow and Thumbtack recommend that first-time buyers calculate affordability using tools that incorporate insurance, taxes, and maintenance — not just principal and interest. They also note that townhomes, condos, or new-construction properties may reduce long-term upkeep.
Morgan Olsen, a home maintenance expert at Thumbtack, said homeowners should think of routine upkeep as “a safety net for your biggest asset,” adding that preventive maintenance can avoid costlier repairs later.
For Chester County homeowners — especially those managing higher local tax loads or living in older housing stock — budgeting carefully for insurance, upkeep, and taxes remains essential. And with affordability pressures rising nationwide, the region’s housing costs are increasingly shaped by the same forces affecting the rest of the country.
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