Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Guthrie Center, Iowa
A $117,000 home here costs
$1,129per 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 $48,500 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $638. The real number is $491 higher every month, 77% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Guthrie County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for Guthrie Center from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 1,603 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 Guthrie 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.
Guthrie Center against Guthrie County and Iowa
| Measure | Guthrie Center | Guthrie County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $117,100 | $163,900 |
| Median property tax | $1,589 | $2,172 |
| Effective tax rate | 1.357% | 1.325% |
| Median gross rent | $839 | $823 |
| Population | 1,603 | 10,646 |
The weather behind that power bill
Guthrie Center sits in Guthrie County, which averages a high of 85.1°F in its hottest month and a low of 9.6°F in its coldest, with 37.14" of precipitation a year and 40% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 843 cooling and 6,850 heating degree days, which is what sets the $142 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Guthrie County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Guthrie County
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Guthrie Center 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 Guthrie Center 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 Guthrie Center?
A $117,000 home in Guthrie Center, Iowa costs approximately $1,129 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $638 principal and interest, $132 property tax, $51 homeowners insurance, $210 utilities and $98 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Guthrie Center?
Guthrie Center has an effective property tax rate of 1.357%, based on a median home value of $117,100 and median real estate taxes of $1,589. That is higher than the Guthrie County average of 1.325%.
What is the average home price in Guthrie Center?
The median owner-occupied home value in Guthrie Center, Iowa is $117,100, against $163,900 across Guthrie County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Guthrie Center?
Median gross rent in Guthrie Center is $839 a month, against $1,129 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 Guthrie Center?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Guthrie Center, Iowa at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $48,500 a year. That covers the full $1,129 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Guthrie Center, 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.