Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Emmetsburg, Iowa
A $115,000 home here costs
$1,112per 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 $47,500 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $627. The real number is $485 higher every month, 77% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Palo Alto County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for Emmetsburg from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 3,651 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 Palo Alto 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.
Emmetsburg against Palo Alto County and Iowa
| Measure | Emmetsburg | Palo Alto County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $114,600 | $119,300 |
| Median property tax | $1,548 | $1,471 |
| Effective tax rate | 1.351% | 1.233% |
| Median gross rent | $589 | $599 |
| Population | 3,651 | 8,902 |
The weather behind that power bill
Emmetsburg sits in Palo Alto County, which averages a high of 84.8°F in its hottest month and a low of 7.4°F in its coldest, with 33.59" of precipitation a year and 41% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 826 cooling and 7,250 heating degree days, which is what sets the $142 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Palo Alto County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Palo Alto County
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Emmetsburg 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 Emmetsburg every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
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Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Emmetsburg?
A $115,000 home in Emmetsburg, Iowa costs approximately $1,112 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $627 principal and interest, $129 property tax, $50 homeowners insurance, $210 utilities and $96 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Emmetsburg?
Emmetsburg has an effective property tax rate of 1.351%, based on a median home value of $114,600 and median real estate taxes of $1,548. That is higher than the Palo Alto County average of 1.233%.
What is the average home price in Emmetsburg?
The median owner-occupied home value in Emmetsburg, Iowa is $114,600, against $119,300 across Palo Alto County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Emmetsburg?
Median gross rent in Emmetsburg is $589 a month, against $1,112 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 Emmetsburg?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Emmetsburg, Iowa at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $47,500 a year. That covers the full $1,112 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Emmetsburg, 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.