Cost to Own
United States › Iowa › Mills County › Glenwood Population 5,118 Data vintage ACS 2023 5-Year Rates updated 2026-10-29
The part nobody budgets Even with the mortgage fully paid off, the median home here still costs $737 a month in taxes, insurance, utilities and upkeep. See the full Mills County picture

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in Glenwood, Iowa

A $194,000 home here costs

$1,795

per 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 $77,000 a year.

P&I 59%Tax 16%Insurance 5%Utilities 12%Upkeep 9%

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,058. The real number is $737 higher every month, 70% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

Compare Mills County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown

Glenwood median: $193,800
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, $155,200 borrowed $1,058
Property tax1.741% effective rate for Glenwood itself $281
Homeowners insuranceIowa averages $1,043/yr (NAIC), or 0.522% of home value $84
Electricity17.06ยข/kWh, Iowa residential average, EIA $142
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $162
Total monthly $1,795

Glenwood against Mills County and Iowa

MeasureGlenwoodMills County
Median home value$193,800$228,700
Median property tax$3,375$3,334
Effective tax rate1.741%1.458%
Median gross rent$842$888
Population5,11814,563

The weather behind that power bill

Glenwood sits in Mills County, which averages a high of 86.9°F in its hottest month and a low of 12.2°F in its coldest, with 34.8" of precipitation a year and 44% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 1,070 cooling and 6,188 heating degree days, which is what sets the $142 electricity line above.

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

Other cities in Mills County

Full Mills County cost breakdown · Every county in Iowa

Talk to someone who works this market

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

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

Common questions

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

A $194,000 home in Glenwood, Iowa costs approximately $1,795 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $1,058 principal and interest, $281 property tax, $84 homeowners insurance, $210 utilities and $162 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in Glenwood?

Glenwood has an effective property tax rate of 1.741%, based on a median home value of $193,800 and median real estate taxes of $3,375. That is higher than the Mills County average of 1.458%.

What is the average home price in Glenwood?

The median owner-occupied home value in Glenwood, Iowa is $193,800, against $228,700 across Mills County.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Glenwood?

Median gross rent in Glenwood is $842 a month, against $1,795 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 Glenwood?

Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Glenwood, Iowa at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $77,000 a year. That covers the full $1,795 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.

Sources & methodology

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