Cost to Own
United States › Iowa › Polk County › Clive Population 18,776 Data vintage ACS 2023 5-Year Rates updated 2026-10-15
The part nobody budgets Even with the mortgage fully paid off, the median home here still costs $1,172 a month in taxes, insurance, utilities and upkeep. See the full Polk County picture

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in Clive, Iowa

A $379,000 home here costs

$3,272

per 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 $140,000 a year.

P&I 64%Tax 15%Insurance 5%Utilities 6%Upkeep 10%

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $2,099. The real number is $1,172 higher every month, 56% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

Compare Polk County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown

Clive median: $379,000
Under 20% adds PMI
Freddie Mac PMMS
IA average household

Where every dollar goes

Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.

Principal & interest30-year fixed, $303,200 borrowed $2,099
Property tax1.553% effective rate for Clive itself $490
Homeowners insuranceIowa averages $1,043/yr (NAIC), or 0.522% of home value $165
Electricity15.99ยข/kWh, Iowa residential average, EIA $133
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $316
Total monthly $3,272

Clive against Polk County and Iowa

MeasureClivePolk County
Median home value$379,000$248,400
Median property tax$5,887$4,364
Effective tax rate1.553%1.757%
Median gross rent$1,099$1,113
Population18,776497,441

Clive extends across 2 counties. Figures here use Polk County, where most of its housing sits.

The weather behind that power bill

Clive sits in Polk County, which averages a high of 85.7°F in its hottest month and a low of 11.7°F in its coldest, with 37.05" of precipitation a year and 40% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 958 cooling and 6,547 heating degree days, which is what sets the $133 electricity line above.

See the full climate breakdown for Polk County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.

Other cities in Polk County

Full Polk County cost breakdown · Every county in Iowa

Talk to someone who works this market

These are Clive 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 Clive every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.

I'm looking to buy in Clive I already own here and may sell

Common questions

How much does it cost to own a home in Clive?

A $379,000 home in Clive, Iowa costs approximately $3,272 per month with 20% down at 7.4%. That is $2,099 principal and interest, $490 property tax, $165 homeowners insurance, $201 utilities and $316 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in Clive?

Clive has an effective property tax rate of 1.553%, based on a median home value of $379,000 and median real estate taxes of $5,887. That is lower than the Polk County average of 1.757%.

What is the average home price in Clive?

The median owner-occupied home value in Clive, Iowa is $379,000, against $248,400 across Polk County.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Clive?

Median gross rent in Clive is $1,099 a month, against $3,272 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 Clive?

Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Clive, Iowa at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $140,000 a year. That covers the full $3,272 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.

Sources & methodology

  • Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Clive, 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.

Full methodology