Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in American Falls, Idaho
A $173,000 home here costs
$1,446per month, all in, with 20% down at today's 7.24% 30-year fixed rate. By the 28% rule that takes a household income of about $62,000 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $943. The real number is $503 higher every month, 53% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Power County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for American Falls from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 4,636 residents that sample is small. The median home value here carries a much wider margin of error than a big-city figure does, so treat it as indicative rather than exact. The Power County figures are drawn from a far larger sample if you want a steadier number.
Where every dollar goes
Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.
American Falls against Power County and Idaho
| Measure | American Falls | Power County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $172,800 | $191,200 |
| Median property tax | $1,565 | $1,577 |
| Effective tax rate | 0.906% | 0.825% |
| Median gross rent | $710 | $729 |
| Population | 4,636 | 8,018 |
The weather behind that power bill
American Falls sits in Power County, which averages a high of 90.4°F in its hottest month and a low of 18.7°F in its coldest, with 11.1" of precipitation a year and 36% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 608 cooling and 6,507 heating degree days, which is what sets the $126 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Power County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Power County
No other places of this size are published in Power County.
Talk to someone who works this market
These are American Falls averages. What one specific house costs to own, or what it would sell for today, depends on the street and the condition of the place. We will connect you with one licensed local agent who works American Falls every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in American Falls I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in American Falls?
A $173,000 home in American Falls, Idaho costs approximately $1,446 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $943 principal and interest, $131 property tax, $34 homeowners insurance, $194 utilities and $144 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in American Falls?
American Falls has an effective property tax rate of 0.906%, based on a median home value of $172,800 and median real estate taxes of $1,565. That is higher than the Power County average of 0.825%.
What is the average home price in American Falls?
The median owner-occupied home value in American Falls, Idaho is $172,800, against $191,200 across Power County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in American Falls?
Median gross rent in American Falls is $710 a month, against $1,446 to own the median home all in. Renting costs less month to month here, though renting builds no equity.
What salary do you need to buy a home in American Falls?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in American Falls, Idaho at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $62,000 a year. That covers the full $1,446 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for American Falls, US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
- Homeowners insurance, NAIC average premium for Idaho.
- Electricity price, EIA Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.A.
- Mortgage rate, Freddie Mac PMMS, refreshed weekly.
- Maintenance (1%/yr) and water and sewer ($68/mo) are national estimates. Every assumption above is editable.