Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Denison, Iowa
A $138,000 home here costs
$1,331per 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 $57,000 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $752. The real number is $579 higher every month, 77% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Crawford 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.
Denison against Crawford County and Iowa
| Measure | Denison | Crawford County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $137,600 | $136,300 |
| Median property tax | $2,323 | $1,799 |
| Effective tax rate | 1.688% | 1.320% |
| Median gross rent | $770 | $727 |
| Population | 8,247 | 16,289 |
The weather behind that power bill
Denison sits in Crawford County, which averages a high of 83.1°F in its hottest month and a low of 9.8°F in its coldest, with 33.64" of precipitation a year and 41% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 755 cooling and 7,112 heating degree days, which is what sets the $142 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Crawford County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Crawford County
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Denison 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 Denison every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Denison I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Denison?
A $138,000 home in Denison, Iowa costs approximately $1,331 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $752 principal and interest, $194 property tax, $60 homeowners insurance, $210 utilities and $115 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Denison?
Denison has an effective property tax rate of 1.688%, based on a median home value of $137,600 and median real estate taxes of $2,323. That is higher than the Crawford County average of 1.320%.
What is the average home price in Denison?
The median owner-occupied home value in Denison, Iowa is $137,600, against $136,300 across Crawford County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Denison?
Median gross rent in Denison is $770 a month, against $1,331 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 Denison?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Denison, Iowa at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $57,000 a year. That covers the full $1,331 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Denison, 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.