Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Fairfield, Iowa
A $153,000 home here costs
$1,463per 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 $62,500 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $834. The real number is $629 higher every month, 75% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Jefferson 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.
Fairfield against Jefferson County and Iowa
| Measure | Fairfield | Jefferson County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $152,900 | $161,200 |
| Median property tax | $2,700 | $2,397 |
| Effective tax rate | 1.766% | 1.487% |
| Median gross rent | $864 | $881 |
| Population | 9,438 | 15,676 |
The weather behind that power bill
Fairfield sits in Jefferson County, which averages a high of 84.2°F in its hottest month and a low of 13.6°F in its coldest, with 38.42" of precipitation a year and 38% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 842 cooling and 6,377 heating degree days, which is what sets the $142 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Jefferson County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Jefferson County
No other places of this size are published in Jefferson County.
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Fairfield 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 Fairfield every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Fairfield I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Fairfield?
A $153,000 home in Fairfield, Iowa costs approximately $1,463 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $834 principal and interest, $225 property tax, $67 homeowners insurance, $210 utilities and $128 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Fairfield?
Fairfield has an effective property tax rate of 1.766%, based on a median home value of $152,900 and median real estate taxes of $2,700. That is higher than the Jefferson County average of 1.487%.
What is the average home price in Fairfield?
The median owner-occupied home value in Fairfield, Iowa is $152,900, against $161,200 across Jefferson County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Fairfield?
Median gross rent in Fairfield is $864 a month, against $1,463 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 Fairfield?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Fairfield, Iowa at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $62,500 a year. That covers the full $1,463 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Fairfield, 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.