The bills between the months
See what U.S. households typically pay for property tax, insurance and other non-monthly bills, then plan your own in the annual bill calendar.
What households pay
Public data on the biggest non-monthly bills: property taxes by state and county, car and home insurance by state, winter heating fuel, and what households spend by age and income.
Car Insurance Cost by State: Average Annual Premium per Vehicle (NAIC Data)
NAIC data: drivers spent $1,282 per insured vehicle in 2023, from $808 in North Dakota to $1,865 in Florida. See every state, monthly set-asides and later price changes.
Heating Oil and Propane Prices by State: Winter 2025–26 Costs and How to Budget
EIA data for winter 2025–26: heating oil averaged $4.01 a gallon and peaked at $5.57 in March; propane averaged $2.55. See 21 heating oil and 38 propane states and how to budget.
Homeowners Insurance Cost by State: Average Annual Premium (NAIC 2023 Data)
NAIC 2023 data: the average HO-3 homeowners policy cost $1,737 a year, from $923 in Wisconsin to $3,027 in Louisiana. Renters averaged $173 and condo owners $658.
Non-Monthly Bills by Age and Income: What U.S. Households Spend (2024 BLS Data)
BLS 2024 data: households headed by 45–54-year-olds spent $11,477 on five big non-monthly bill lines, about $956 a month. See every age group and income level.
Property Taxes by State: Median Bill, Home Value and Monthly Set-Aside (2024 Census Data)
Median property tax by state from 2024 Census data: $3,211 nationally ($267.58 a month), $9,358 in New Jersey and $881 in West Virginia, plus home values.
Property Taxes in the 100 Largest U.S. Counties (2024 Census Data)
Median property tax in the 100 most populous U.S. counties from 2024 Census data: eight top $10,000, Maricopa County is $1,916, plus monthly set-asides and home values.
What U.S. Households Spend on Non-Monthly Bills (2024 BLS Data)
BLS 2024 data: households averaged $2,738 for property taxes and $1,993 for car insurance. See 15 non-monthly bills, monthly equivalents and regions.
Start a sinking fund
Turn a list of irregular expenses into a monthly set-aside and a starting balance.
Understand bill timing
Find the tight months and the opening balance an early bill needs.
Budget for the Timing of Your Worst Month, Not Only the Average
Dividing yearly bills by 12 can still leave you short when a big bill comes early. See how to find your worst month and the starting balance that covers it.
What Is the Worst Month for Household Bills? Why There Is No National Answer
There is no defensible national worst month for bills. Property-tax calendars, insurance renewals and household obligations differ; here is how to find your own.
When Big Bills Land in the Same Month: Safe Options
When insurance, taxes and renewals land in the same month: measure the real shortfall, ask providers about due-date options, and build the reserve to cover it.
Gather your annual bills
A document-based checklist for the bills that come once or twice a year.
Sources are linked on each page. Read how we research, cite and correct our guides.