Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Melcher-Dallas, Iowa
A $95,000 home here costs
$931per month, all in — with 20% down at today's 6.66% 30-year fixed rate.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $488. The real number is $443 higher every month — 91% 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.
Melcher-Dallas against Marion County and Iowa
| Measure | Melcher-Dallas | Marion County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $94,600 | $211,100 |
| Median property tax | $1,516 | $2,727 |
| Effective tax rate | 1.603% | 1.292% |
| Median gross rent | $798 | $880 |
| Population | 1,228 | 33,551 |
The weather behind that power bill
Melcher-Dallas sits in Marion County, which averages a high of 84.6°F in its hottest month and a low of 12.5°F in its coldest, with 37.45" of precipitation a year and 40% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 950 cooling and 6,416 heating degree days, which is what sets the $127 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Marion County — month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Marion County
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Melcher-Dallas?
A $95,000 home in Melcher-Dallas, Iowa costs approximately $931 per month with 20% down at 6.66%. That is $488 principal and interest, $127 property tax, $41 homeowners insurance, $195 utilities and $79 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Melcher-Dallas?
Melcher-Dallas has an effective property tax rate of 1.603%, based on a median home value of $94,600 and median real estate taxes of $1,516. That is higher than the Marion County average of 1.292%.
What is the average home price in Melcher-Dallas?
The median owner-occupied home value in Melcher-Dallas, Iowa is $94,600, against $211,100 across Marion County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Melcher-Dallas?
Median gross rent in Melcher-Dallas is $798 a month, against $931 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 Melcher-Dallas — 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.