Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Blue Grass, Iowa
A $202,000 home here costs
$1,820per month, all in, with 20% down at today's 7.40% 30-year fixed rate. By the 28% rule that takes a household income of about $78,000 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,119. The real number is $701 higher every month, 63% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Scott County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for Blue Grass from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 1,867 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 Scott 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.
Blue Grass against Scott County and Iowa
| Measure | Blue Grass | Scott County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $202,400 | $212,500 |
| Median property tax | $2,930 | $3,221 |
| Effective tax rate | 1.448% | 1.516% |
| Median gross rent | $1,158 | $958 |
| Population | 1,867 | 174,302 |
Blue Grass extends across 2 counties. Figures here use Scott County, where most of its housing sits.
The weather behind that power bill
Blue Grass sits in Scott County, which averages a high of 83.8°F in its hottest month and a low of 14.0°F in its coldest, with 36.17" of precipitation a year and 38% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 879 cooling and 6,326 heating degree days, which is what sets the $133 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Scott County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Scott County
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Blue Grass 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 Blue Grass every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Blue Grass I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Blue Grass?
A $202,000 home in Blue Grass, Iowa costs approximately $1,820 per month with 20% down at 7.4%. That is $1,119 principal and interest, $244 property tax, $88 homeowners insurance, $201 utilities and $168 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Blue Grass?
Blue Grass has an effective property tax rate of 1.448%, based on a median home value of $202,400 and median real estate taxes of $2,930. That is lower than the Scott County average of 1.516%.
What is the average home price in Blue Grass?
The median owner-occupied home value in Blue Grass, Iowa is $202,400, against $212,500 across Scott County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Blue Grass?
Median gross rent in Blue Grass is $1,158 a month, against $1,820 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 Blue Grass?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Blue Grass, Iowa at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $78,000 a year. That covers the full $1,820 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Blue Grass, 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.