Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Chariton, Iowa
A $84,000 home here costs
$918per 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 $39,500 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $458. The real number is $460 higher every month, 101% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Lucas County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for Chariton from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 4,235 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 Lucas 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.
Chariton against Lucas County and Iowa
| Measure | Chariton | Lucas County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $84,200 | $117,000 |
| Median property tax | $1,730 | $1,732 |
| Effective tax rate | 2.055% | 1.480% |
| Median gross rent | $716 | $738 |
| Population | 4,235 | 8,685 |
The weather behind that power bill
Chariton sits in Lucas County, which averages a high of 84.5°F in its hottest month and a low of 10.6°F in its coldest, with 37.32" of precipitation a year and 39% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 732 cooling and 6,801 heating degree days, which is what sets the $142 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Lucas County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Lucas County
No other places of this size are published in Lucas County.
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Chariton 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 Chariton every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Chariton I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Chariton?
A $84,000 home in Chariton, Iowa costs approximately $918 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $458 principal and interest, $144 property tax, $37 homeowners insurance, $210 utilities and $70 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Chariton?
Chariton has an effective property tax rate of 2.055%, based on a median home value of $84,200 and median real estate taxes of $1,730. That is higher than the Lucas County average of 1.480%.
What is the average home price in Chariton?
The median owner-occupied home value in Chariton, Iowa is $84,200, against $117,000 across Lucas County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Chariton?
Median gross rent in Chariton is $716 a month, against $918 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 Chariton?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Chariton, Iowa at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $39,500 a year. That covers the full $918 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Chariton, 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.