Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Preston, Iowa
A $145,000 home here costs
$1,309per month, all in — with 20% down at today's 6.66% 30-year fixed rate.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $745. The real number is $564 higher every month — 76% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Where every dollar goes
Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.
Preston against Jackson County and Iowa
| Measure | Preston | Jackson County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $144,600 | $170,000 |
| Median property tax | $2,211 | $2,129 |
| Effective tax rate | 1.529% | 1.252% |
| Median gross rent | $789 | $800 |
| Population | 1,057 | 19,429 |
The weather behind that power bill
Preston sits in Jackson County, which averages a high of 82.2°F in its hottest month and a low of 11.4°F in its coldest, with 36.69" of precipitation a year and 37% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 737 cooling and 6,943 heating degree days, which is what sets the $127 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Jackson County — month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Jackson County
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Preston?
A $145,000 home in Preston, Iowa costs approximately $1,309 per month with 20% down at 6.66%. That is $745 principal and interest, $185 property tax, $63 homeowners insurance, $195 utilities and $121 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Preston?
Preston has an effective property tax rate of 1.529%, based on a median home value of $144,600 and median real estate taxes of $2,211. That is higher than the Jackson County average of 1.252%.
What is the average home price in Preston?
The median owner-occupied home value in Preston, Iowa is $144,600, against $170,000 across Jackson County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Preston?
Median gross rent in Preston is $789 a month, against $1,309 to own the median home all in. Renting costs less month to month here, though renting builds no equity.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Preston — 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.