Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Kalona, Iowa
A $221,000 home here costs
$1,943per 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 $83,500 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,205. The real number is $738 higher every month, 61% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Washington County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for Kalona from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 2,679 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 Washington 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.
Kalona against Washington County and Iowa
| Measure | Kalona | Washington County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $221,300 | $199,600 |
| Median property tax | $2,981 | $2,688 |
| Effective tax rate | 1.347% | 1.347% |
| Median gross rent | $819 | $862 |
| Population | 2,679 | 22,539 |
The weather behind that power bill
Kalona sits in Washington County, which averages a high of 85.0°F in its hottest month and a low of 11.5°F in its coldest, with 37.94" of precipitation a year and 38% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 867 cooling and 6,536 heating degree days, which is what sets the $142 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Washington County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Washington County
Full Washington County cost breakdown · Every county in Iowa
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Kalona 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 Kalona every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Kalona I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Kalona?
A $221,000 home in Kalona, Iowa costs approximately $1,943 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $1,205 principal and interest, $248 property tax, $96 homeowners insurance, $210 utilities and $184 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Kalona?
Kalona has an effective property tax rate of 1.347%, based on a median home value of $221,300 and median real estate taxes of $2,981. That is in line with the Washington County average of 1.347%.
What is the average home price in Kalona?
The median owner-occupied home value in Kalona, Iowa is $221,300, against $199,600 across Washington County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Kalona?
Median gross rent in Kalona is $819 a month, against $1,943 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 Kalona?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Kalona, Iowa at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $83,500 a year. That covers the full $1,943 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Kalona, 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.