Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Mount Ayr, Iowa
A $145,000 home here costs
$1,368per 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 $58,500 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $791. The real number is $577 higher every month, 73% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Ringgold County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for Mount Ayr from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 1,739 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 Ringgold 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.
Mount Ayr against Ringgold County and Iowa
| Measure | Mount Ayr | Ringgold County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $144,500 | $150,300 |
| Median property tax | $2,194 | $1,909 |
| Effective tax rate | 1.518% | 1.270% |
| Median gross rent | $694 | $745 |
| Population | 1,739 | 4,664 |
The weather behind that power bill
Mount Ayr sits in Ringgold County, which averages a high of 84.6°F in its hottest month and a low of 11.7°F in its coldest, with 36.96" of precipitation a year and 41% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 865 cooling and 6,422 heating degree days, which is what sets the $142 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Ringgold County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Ringgold County
No other places of this size are published in Ringgold County.
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Mount Ayr 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 Mount Ayr every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Mount Ayr I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Mount Ayr?
A $145,000 home in Mount Ayr, Iowa costs approximately $1,368 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $791 principal and interest, $183 property tax, $63 homeowners insurance, $210 utilities and $121 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Mount Ayr?
Mount Ayr has an effective property tax rate of 1.518%, based on a median home value of $144,500 and median real estate taxes of $2,194. That is higher than the Ringgold County average of 1.270%.
What is the average home price in Mount Ayr?
The median owner-occupied home value in Mount Ayr, Iowa is $144,500, against $150,300 across Ringgold County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Mount Ayr?
Median gross rent in Mount Ayr is $694 a month, against $1,368 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 Mount Ayr?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Mount Ayr, Iowa at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $58,500 a year. That covers the full $1,368 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Mount Ayr, 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.