Cost to Own
United StatesIowaHardin CountyEldora Population 2,622 Data vintage ACS 2023 5-Year Rates updated 2026-07-30

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in Eldora, Iowa

A $109,000 home here costs

$1,088

per month, all in — with 20% down at today's 6.66% 30-year fixed rate.

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $560. The real number is $528 higher every month — 94% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

Eldora median: $108,800
Under 20% adds PMI
Freddie Mac PMMS
US 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, $87,200 borrowed $560
Property tax2.139% effective rate for Eldora itself $194
Homeowners insuranceIowa averages $1,043/yr (NAIC), or 0.522% of home value $47
Electricity14.14¢/kWh — Iowa residential average, EIA $127
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $91
Total monthly $1,088

Eldora against Hardin County and Iowa

MeasureEldoraHardin County
Median home value$108,800$113,000
Median property tax$2,327$1,613
Effective tax rate2.139%1.427%
Median gross rent$735$814
Population2,62216,729

The weather behind that power bill

Eldora sits in Hardin County, which averages a high of 83.5°F in its hottest month and a low of 8.4°F in its coldest, with 37.85" of precipitation a year and 40% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 727 cooling and 7,269 heating degree days, which is what sets the $127 electricity line above.

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

Other cities in Hardin County

Full Hardin County cost breakdown · Every county in Iowa

Common questions

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

A $109,000 home in Eldora, Iowa costs approximately $1,088 per month with 20% down at 6.66%. That is $560 principal and interest, $194 property tax, $47 homeowners insurance, $195 utilities and $91 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in Eldora?

Eldora has an effective property tax rate of 2.139%, based on a median home value of $108,800 and median real estate taxes of $2,327. That is higher than the Hardin County average of 1.427%.

What is the average home price in Eldora?

The median owner-occupied home value in Eldora, Iowa is $108,800, against $113,000 across Hardin County.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Eldora?

Median gross rent in Eldora is $735 a month, against $1,088 to own the median home all in. Renting costs less month to month here, though renting builds no equity.

Sources & methodology

  • Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Eldora — 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