Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Independence, Iowa
A $157,000 home here costs
$1,488per 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 $64,000 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $856. The real number is $632 higher every month, 74% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Buchanan 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.
Independence against Buchanan County and Iowa
| Measure | Independence | Buchanan County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $156,900 | $171,400 |
| Median property tax | $2,670 | $2,286 |
| Effective tax rate | 1.702% | 1.334% |
| Median gross rent | $769 | $802 |
| Population | 6,149 | 20,645 |
The weather behind that power bill
Independence sits in Buchanan County, which averages a high of 83.0°F in its hottest month and a low of 8.0°F in its coldest, with 37.37" of precipitation a year and 40% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 723 cooling and 7,252 heating degree days, which is what sets the $142 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Buchanan County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Buchanan County
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Independence 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 Independence every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Independence I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Independence?
A $157,000 home in Independence, Iowa costs approximately $1,488 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $856 principal and interest, $223 property tax, $68 homeowners insurance, $210 utilities and $131 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Independence?
Independence has an effective property tax rate of 1.702%, based on a median home value of $156,900 and median real estate taxes of $2,670. That is higher than the Buchanan County average of 1.334%.
What is the average home price in Independence?
The median owner-occupied home value in Independence, Iowa is $156,900, against $171,400 across Buchanan County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Independence?
Median gross rent in Independence is $769 a month, against $1,488 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 Independence?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Independence, Iowa at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $64,000 a year. That covers the full $1,488 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Independence, 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.