Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Laurens, Iowa
A $71,000 home here costs
$765per 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 $33,000 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $387. The real number is $378 higher every month, 98% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Pocahontas County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for Laurens from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 1,234 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 Pocahontas 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.
Laurens against Pocahontas County and Iowa
| Measure | Laurens | Pocahontas County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $71,000 | $93,300 |
| Median property tax | $931 | $1,066 |
| Effective tax rate | 1.311% | 1.143% |
| Median gross rent | $763 | $743 |
| Population | 1,234 | 7,040 |
The weather behind that power bill
Laurens sits in Pocahontas County, which averages a high of 84.4°F in its hottest month and a low of 7.5°F in its coldest, with 32.79" of precipitation a year and 40% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 789 cooling and 7,344 heating degree days, which is what sets the $142 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Pocahontas County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Pocahontas County
Full Pocahontas County cost breakdown · Every county in Iowa
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Laurens 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 Laurens every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Laurens I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Laurens?
A $71,000 home in Laurens, Iowa costs approximately $765 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $387 principal and interest, $78 property tax, $31 homeowners insurance, $210 utilities and $59 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Laurens?
Laurens has an effective property tax rate of 1.311%, based on a median home value of $71,000 and median real estate taxes of $931. That is higher than the Pocahontas County average of 1.143%.
What is the average home price in Laurens?
The median owner-occupied home value in Laurens, Iowa is $71,000, against $93,300 across Pocahontas County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Laurens?
Median gross rent in Laurens is $763 a month, against $765 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 Laurens?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Laurens, Iowa at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $33,000 a year. That covers the full $765 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Laurens, 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.