Cost to Own
United States › Iowa › Story County › Gilbert Population 1,300 Data vintage ACS 2023 5-Year Rates updated 2026-10-15
The part nobody budgets Even with the mortgage fully paid off, the median home here still costs $871 a month in taxes, insurance, utilities and upkeep. See the full Story County picture

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in Gilbert, Iowa

A $267,000 home here costs

$2,350

per month, all in, with 20% down at today's 7.40% 30-year fixed rate. By the 28% rule that takes a household income of about $100,500 a year.

P&I 63%Tax 14%Insurance 5%Utilities 9%Upkeep 9%

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,479. The real number is $871 higher every month, 59% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

Compare Story County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown

Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for Gilbert from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 1,300 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 Story County figures are drawn from a far larger sample if you want a steadier number.

Gilbert median: $267,200
Under 20% adds PMI
Freddie Mac PMMS
IA 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, $213,600 borrowed $1,479
Property tax1.490% effective rate for Gilbert itself $332
Homeowners insuranceIowa averages $1,043/yr (NAIC), or 0.522% of home value $116
Electricity15.99ยข/kWh, Iowa residential average, EIA $133
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $223
Total monthly $2,350

Gilbert against Story County and Iowa

MeasureGilbertStory County
Median home value$267,200$243,600
Median property tax$3,980$3,586
Effective tax rate1.490%1.472%
Median gross rent$887$1,019
Population1,30098,592

The weather behind that power bill

Gilbert sits in Story County, which averages a high of 83.9°F in its hottest month and a low of 10.9°F in its coldest, with 35.91" of precipitation a year and 41% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 786 cooling and 6,748 heating degree days, which is what sets the $133 electricity line above.

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

Other cities in Story County

Full Story County cost breakdown · Every county in Iowa

Talk to someone who works this market

These are Gilbert 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 Gilbert every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.

I'm looking to buy in Gilbert I already own here and may sell

Common questions

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

A $267,000 home in Gilbert, Iowa costs approximately $2,350 per month with 20% down at 7.4%. That is $1,479 principal and interest, $332 property tax, $116 homeowners insurance, $201 utilities and $223 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in Gilbert?

Gilbert has an effective property tax rate of 1.490%, based on a median home value of $267,200 and median real estate taxes of $3,980. That is higher than the Story County average of 1.472%.

What is the average home price in Gilbert?

The median owner-occupied home value in Gilbert, Iowa is $267,200, against $243,600 across Story County.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Gilbert?

Median gross rent in Gilbert is $887 a month, against $2,350 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 Gilbert?

Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Gilbert, Iowa at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $100,500 a year. That covers the full $2,350 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.

Sources & methodology

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