Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Le Mars, Iowa
A $202,000 home here costs
$1,676per month, all in — with 20% down at today's 6.66% 30-year fixed rate.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,038. The real number is $637 higher every month — 61% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Where every dollar goes
Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.
Le Mars against Plymouth County and Iowa
| Measure | Le Mars | Plymouth County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $202,200 | $218,600 |
| Median property tax | $2,233 | $2,363 |
| Effective tax rate | 1.104% | 1.081% |
| Median gross rent | $908 | $865 |
| Population | 10,597 | 25,699 |
The weather behind that power bill
Le Mars sits in Plymouth County, which averages a high of 84.5°F in its hottest month and a low of 7.4°F in its coldest, with 29.99" of precipitation a year and 39% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 756 cooling and 7,312 heating degree days, which is what sets the $127 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Plymouth County — month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Plymouth County
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Le Mars?
A $202,000 home in Le Mars, Iowa costs approximately $1,676 per month with 20% down at 6.66%. That is $1,038 principal and interest, $186 property tax, $88 homeowners insurance, $195 utilities and $168 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Le Mars?
Le Mars has an effective property tax rate of 1.104%, based on a median home value of $202,200 and median real estate taxes of $2,233. That is higher than the Plymouth County average of 1.081%.
What is the average home price in Le Mars?
The median owner-occupied home value in Le Mars, Iowa is $202,200, against $218,600 across Plymouth County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Le Mars?
Median gross rent in Le Mars is $908 a month, against $1,676 to own the median home all in. Renting costs less month to month here, though renting builds no equity.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Le Mars — 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.