Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Mount Vernon, Iowa
A $257,000 home here costs
$2,273per month, all in, with 20% down at today's 7.40% 30-year fixed rate. By the 28% rule that takes a household income of about $97,500 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,424. The real number is $850 higher every month, 60% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Linn County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for Mount Vernon from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 4,551 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 Linn 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 Vernon against Linn County and Iowa
| Measure | Mount Vernon | Linn County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $256,900 | $204,400 |
| Median property tax | $3,875 | $3,396 |
| Effective tax rate | 1.508% | 1.661% |
| Median gross rent | $802 | $915 |
| Population | 4,551 | 229,463 |
The weather behind that power bill
Mount Vernon sits in Linn County, which averages a high of 85.5°F in its hottest month and a low of 12.5°F in its coldest, with 38.75" of precipitation a year and 38% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 918 cooling and 6,384 heating degree days, which is what sets the $133 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Linn County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Linn County
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Mount Vernon 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 Vernon every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Mount Vernon I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Mount Vernon?
A $257,000 home in Mount Vernon, Iowa costs approximately $2,273 per month with 20% down at 7.4%. That is $1,424 principal and interest, $323 property tax, $112 homeowners insurance, $201 utilities and $214 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Mount Vernon?
Mount Vernon has an effective property tax rate of 1.508%, based on a median home value of $256,900 and median real estate taxes of $3,875. That is lower than the Linn County average of 1.661%.
What is the average home price in Mount Vernon?
The median owner-occupied home value in Mount Vernon, Iowa is $256,900, against $204,400 across Linn County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Mount Vernon?
Median gross rent in Mount Vernon is $802 a month, against $2,273 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 Vernon?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Mount Vernon, Iowa at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $97,500 a year. That covers the full $2,273 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Mount Vernon, 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.