Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Oskaloosa, Iowa
A $129,000 home here costs
$1,247per 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 $53,500 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $703. The real number is $544 higher every month, 77% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Mahaska County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Where every dollar goes
Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.
Oskaloosa against Mahaska County and Iowa
| Measure | Oskaloosa | Mahaska County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $128,900 | $140,900 |
| Median property tax | $2,043 | $1,956 |
| Effective tax rate | 1.585% | 1.388% |
| Median gross rent | $880 | $821 |
| Population | 11,492 | 22,045 |
The weather behind that power bill
Oskaloosa sits in Mahaska County, which averages a high of 85.5°F in its hottest month and a low of 12.2°F in its coldest, with 38.72" of precipitation a year and 38% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 958 cooling and 6,366 heating degree days, which is what sets the $142 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Mahaska County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Mahaska County
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Oskaloosa 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 Oskaloosa every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
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Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Oskaloosa?
A $129,000 home in Oskaloosa, Iowa costs approximately $1,247 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $703 principal and interest, $170 property tax, $56 homeowners insurance, $210 utilities and $108 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Oskaloosa?
Oskaloosa has an effective property tax rate of 1.585%, based on a median home value of $128,900 and median real estate taxes of $2,043. That is higher than the Mahaska County average of 1.388%.
What is the average home price in Oskaloosa?
The median owner-occupied home value in Oskaloosa, Iowa is $128,900, against $140,900 across Mahaska County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Oskaloosa?
Median gross rent in Oskaloosa is $880 a month, against $1,247 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 Oskaloosa?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Oskaloosa, Iowa at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $53,500 a year. That covers the full $1,247 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Oskaloosa, 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.