Cost to Own
United States › Iowa › Linn County › Robins Population 3,349 Data vintage ACS 2023 5-Year Rates updated 2026-10-15
The part nobody budgets Even with the mortgage fully paid off, the median home here still costs $1,090 a month in taxes, insurance, utilities and upkeep. See the full Linn County picture

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in Robins, Iowa

A $371,000 home here costs

$3,145

per month, all in, with 20% down at today's 7.40% 30-year fixed rate. By the 28% rule that takes a household income of about $135,000 a year.

P&I 65%Tax 13%Insurance 5%Utilities 6%Upkeep 10%

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $2,055. The real number is $1,090 higher every month, 53% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

Compare Linn County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown

Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for Robins from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 3,349 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 Linn County figures are drawn from a far larger sample if you want a steadier number.

Robins median: $370,500
Under 20% adds PMI
Freddie Mac PMMS
IA average household

Where every dollar goes

Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.

Principal & interest30-year fixed, $296,800 borrowed $2,055
Property tax1.352% effective rate for Robins itself $418
Homeowners insuranceIowa averages $1,043/yr (NAIC), or 0.522% of home value $161
Electricity15.99ยข/kWh, Iowa residential average, EIA $133
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $309
Total monthly $3,145

Robins against Linn County and Iowa

MeasureRobinsLinn County
Median home value$370,500$204,400
Median property tax$5,011$3,396
Effective tax rate1.352%1.661%
Median gross rent$955$915
Population3,349229,463

The weather behind that power bill

Robins sits in Linn County, which averages a high of 85.5°F in its hottest month and a low of 12.5°F in its coldest, with 38.75" of precipitation a year and 38% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 918 cooling and 6,384 heating degree days, which is what sets the $133 electricity line above.

See the full climate breakdown for Linn County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.

Other cities in Linn County

Full Linn County cost breakdown · Every county in Iowa

Talk to someone who works this market

These are Robins 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 Robins every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.

I'm looking to buy in Robins I already own here and may sell

Common questions

How much does it cost to own a home in Robins?

A $371,000 home in Robins, Iowa costs approximately $3,145 per month with 20% down at 7.4%. That is $2,055 principal and interest, $418 property tax, $161 homeowners insurance, $201 utilities and $309 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in Robins?

Robins has an effective property tax rate of 1.352%, based on a median home value of $370,500 and median real estate taxes of $5,011. That is lower than the Linn County average of 1.661%.

What is the average home price in Robins?

The median owner-occupied home value in Robins, Iowa is $370,500, against $204,400 across Linn County.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Robins?

Median gross rent in Robins is $955 a month, against $3,145 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 Robins?

Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Robins, Iowa at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $135,000 a year. That covers the full $3,145 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.

Sources & methodology

  • Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Robins, 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.

Full methodology