Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Estherville, Iowa
A $96,000 home here costs
$993per 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 $42,500 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $523. The real number is $470 higher every month, 90% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Emmet 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.
Estherville against Emmet County and Iowa
| Measure | Estherville | Emmet County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $96,300 | $106,200 |
| Median property tax | $1,664 | $1,570 |
| Effective tax rate | 1.728% | 1.478% |
| Median gross rent | $739 | $731 |
| Population | 5,865 | 9,316 |
The weather behind that power bill
Estherville sits in Emmet County, which averages a high of 81.1°F in its hottest month and a low of 6.6°F in its coldest, with 29.26" of precipitation a year and 44% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 527 cooling and 7,910 heating degree days, which is what sets the $142 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Emmet County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Emmet County
No other places of this size are published in Emmet County.
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Estherville 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 Estherville every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Estherville I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Estherville?
A $96,000 home in Estherville, Iowa costs approximately $993 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $523 principal and interest, $138 property tax, $42 homeowners insurance, $210 utilities and $80 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Estherville?
Estherville has an effective property tax rate of 1.728%, based on a median home value of $96,300 and median real estate taxes of $1,664. That is higher than the Emmet County average of 1.478%.
What is the average home price in Estherville?
The median owner-occupied home value in Estherville, Iowa is $96,300, against $106,200 across Emmet County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Estherville?
Median gross rent in Estherville is $739 a month, against $993 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 Estherville?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Estherville, Iowa at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $42,500 a year. That covers the full $993 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Estherville, 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.