Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Perry, Iowa
A $122,000 home here costs
$1,219per 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 $52,000 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $665. The real number is $554 higher every month, 83% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Dallas 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.
Perry against Dallas County and Iowa
| Measure | Perry | Dallas County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $122,100 | $333,400 |
| Median property tax | $2,273 | $4,849 |
| Effective tax rate | 1.862% | 1.454% |
| Median gross rent | $877 | $1,239 |
| Population | 7,928 | 104,136 |
The weather behind that power bill
Perry sits in Dallas County, which averages a high of 85.4°F in its hottest month and a low of 10.2°F in its coldest, with 36.12" of precipitation a year and 40% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 895 cooling and 6,740 heating degree days, which is what sets the $142 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Dallas County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Dallas County
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Perry 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 Perry every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Perry?
A $122,000 home in Perry, Iowa costs approximately $1,219 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $665 principal and interest, $189 property tax, $53 homeowners insurance, $210 utilities and $102 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Perry?
Perry has an effective property tax rate of 1.862%, based on a median home value of $122,100 and median real estate taxes of $2,273. That is higher than the Dallas County average of 1.454%.
What is the average home price in Perry?
The median owner-occupied home value in Perry, Iowa is $122,100, against $333,400 across Dallas County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Perry?
Median gross rent in Perry is $877 a month, against $1,219 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 Perry?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Perry, Iowa at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $52,000 a year. That covers the full $1,219 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Perry, 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.