Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Graettinger, Iowa
A $87,000 home here costs
$876per 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 $37,500 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $474. The real number is $402 higher every month, 85% 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 Graettinger from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 1,038 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.
Graettinger against Palo Alto County and Iowa
| Measure | Graettinger | Palo Alto County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $87,000 | $119,300 |
| Median property tax | $981 | $1,471 |
| Effective tax rate | 1.128% | 1.233% |
| Median gross rent | $480 | $599 |
| Population | 1,038 | 8,902 |
The weather behind that power bill
Graettinger 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 Graettinger 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 Graettinger 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 Graettinger?
A $87,000 home in Graettinger, Iowa costs approximately $876 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $474 principal and interest, $82 property tax, $38 homeowners insurance, $210 utilities and $73 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Graettinger?
Graettinger has an effective property tax rate of 1.128%, based on a median home value of $87,000 and median real estate taxes of $981. That is lower than the Palo Alto County average of 1.233%.
What is the average home price in Graettinger?
The median owner-occupied home value in Graettinger, Iowa is $87,000, against $119,300 across Palo Alto County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Graettinger?
Median gross rent in Graettinger is $480 a month, against $876 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 Graettinger?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Graettinger, Iowa at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $37,500 a year. That covers the full $876 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Graettinger, 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.