Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Oskaloosa, Kansas
A $145,000 home here costs
$1,374per 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 $59,000 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $791. The real number is $583 higher every month, 74% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Jefferson County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for Oskaloosa from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 1,172 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 Jefferson 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.
Oskaloosa against Jefferson County and Kansas
| Measure | Oskaloosa | Jefferson County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $145,000 | $200,800 |
| Median property tax | $2,093 | $2,562 |
| Effective tax rate | 1.443% | 1.276% |
| Median gross rent | $863 | $844 |
| Population | 1,172 | 18,391 |
The weather behind that power bill
Oskaloosa sits in Jefferson County, which averages a high of 89.9°F in its hottest month and a low of 17.9°F in its coldest, with 38.34" of precipitation a year and 40% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 1,395 cooling and 5,193 heating degree days, which is what sets the $136 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Jefferson County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Jefferson County
Full Jefferson County cost breakdown · Every county in Kansas
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.
I'm looking to buy in Oskaloosa I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Oskaloosa?
A $145,000 home in Oskaloosa, Kansas costs approximately $1,374 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $791 principal and interest, $174 property tax, $85 homeowners insurance, $204 utilities and $121 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Oskaloosa?
Oskaloosa has an effective property tax rate of 1.443%, based on a median home value of $145,000 and median real estate taxes of $2,093. That is higher than the Jefferson County average of 1.276%.
What is the average home price in Oskaloosa?
The median owner-occupied home value in Oskaloosa, Kansas is $145,000, against $200,800 across Jefferson County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Oskaloosa?
Median gross rent in Oskaloosa is $863 a month, against $1,374 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, Kansas at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $59,000 a year. That covers the full $1,374 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 Kansas.
- 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.