Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Mediapolis, Iowa
A $167,000 home here costs
$1,440per month, all in — with 20% down at today's 6.66% 30-year fixed rate.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $859. The real number is $582 higher every month — 68% 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.
Mediapolis against Des Moines County and Iowa
| Measure | Mediapolis | Des Moines County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $167,300 | $137,000 |
| Median property tax | $2,099 | $2,097 |
| Effective tax rate | 1.255% | 1.531% |
| Median gross rent | $968 | $908 |
| Population | 1,930 | 38,597 |
The weather behind that power bill
Mediapolis sits in Des Moines County, which averages a high of 85.2°F in its hottest month and a low of 16.4°F in its coldest, with 37.86" of precipitation a year and 37% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 1,083 cooling and 5,820 heating degree days, which is what sets the $127 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Des Moines County — month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Des Moines County
Full Des Moines County cost breakdown · Every county in Iowa
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Mediapolis?
A $167,000 home in Mediapolis, Iowa costs approximately $1,440 per month with 20% down at 6.66%. That is $859 principal and interest, $175 property tax, $73 homeowners insurance, $195 utilities and $139 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Mediapolis?
Mediapolis has an effective property tax rate of 1.255%, based on a median home value of $167,300 and median real estate taxes of $2,099. That is lower than the Des Moines County average of 1.531%.
What is the average home price in Mediapolis?
The median owner-occupied home value in Mediapolis, Iowa is $167,300, against $137,000 across Des Moines County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Mediapolis?
Median gross rent in Mediapolis is $968 a month, against $1,440 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 Mediapolis — 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.