Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Northwood, Iowa
A $125,000 home here costs
$1,174per 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 $50,500 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $681. The real number is $492 higher every month, 72% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Worth County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for Northwood from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 2,170 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 Worth 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.
Northwood against Worth County and Iowa
| Measure | Northwood | Worth County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $124,800 | $142,300 |
| Median property tax | $1,481 | $1,530 |
| Effective tax rate | 1.187% | 1.075% |
| Median gross rent | $583 | $703 |
| Population | 2,170 | 7,380 |
The weather behind that power bill
Northwood sits in Worth County, which averages a high of 78.6°F in its hottest month and a low of 3.8°F in its coldest, with 35.47" of precipitation a year and 41% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 392 cooling and 8,378 heating degree days, which is what sets the $142 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Worth County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Worth County
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Northwood 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 Northwood every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Northwood I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Northwood?
A $125,000 home in Northwood, Iowa costs approximately $1,174 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $681 principal and interest, $124 property tax, $54 homeowners insurance, $210 utilities and $104 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Northwood?
Northwood has an effective property tax rate of 1.187%, based on a median home value of $124,800 and median real estate taxes of $1,481. That is higher than the Worth County average of 1.075%.
What is the average home price in Northwood?
The median owner-occupied home value in Northwood, Iowa is $124,800, against $142,300 across Worth County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Northwood?
Median gross rent in Northwood is $583 a month, against $1,174 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 Northwood?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Northwood, Iowa at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $50,500 a year. That covers the full $1,174 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Northwood, 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.