Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Atlantic, Iowa
A $135,000 home here costs
$1,317per 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 $56,500 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $736. The real number is $581 higher every month, 79% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Cass County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Where every dollar goes
Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.
Atlantic against Cass County and Iowa
| Measure | Atlantic | Cass County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $134,900 | $133,300 |
| Median property tax | $2,399 | $1,904 |
| Effective tax rate | 1.778% | 1.428% |
| Median gross rent | $750 | $769 |
| Population | 6,773 | 13,115 |
The weather behind that power bill
Atlantic sits in Cass County, which averages a high of 86.1°F in its hottest month and a low of 9.9°F in its coldest, with 37.14" of precipitation a year and 42% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 940 cooling and 6,638 heating degree days, which is what sets the $142 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Cass County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Cass County
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Atlantic 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 Atlantic every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Atlantic I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Atlantic?
A $135,000 home in Atlantic, Iowa costs approximately $1,317 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $736 principal and interest, $200 property tax, $59 homeowners insurance, $210 utilities and $113 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Atlantic?
Atlantic has an effective property tax rate of 1.778%, based on a median home value of $134,900 and median real estate taxes of $2,399. That is higher than the Cass County average of 1.428%.
What is the average home price in Atlantic?
The median owner-occupied home value in Atlantic, Iowa is $134,900, against $133,300 across Cass County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Atlantic?
Median gross rent in Atlantic is $750 a month, against $1,317 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 Atlantic?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Atlantic, Iowa at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $56,500 a year. That covers the full $1,317 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Atlantic, US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
- Homeowners insurance, NAIC average premium for Iowa.
- 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.