Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Rock Valley, Iowa
A $226,000 home here costs
$1,992per 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 $85,500 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,232. The real number is $760 higher every month, 62% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Sioux County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for Rock Valley from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 4,061 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 Sioux 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.
Rock Valley against Sioux County and Iowa
| Measure | Rock Valley | Sioux County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $225,800 | $235,600 |
| Median property tax | $3,156 | $2,722 |
| Effective tax rate | 1.398% | 1.155% |
| Median gross rent | $1,070 | $888 |
| Population | 4,061 | 35,984 |
The weather behind that power bill
Rock Valley sits in Sioux County, which averages a high of 84.8°F in its hottest month and a low of 9.4°F in its coldest, with 29.85" of precipitation a year and 41% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 825 cooling and 6,993 heating degree days, which is what sets the $142 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Sioux County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Sioux County
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Rock Valley 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 Rock Valley every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Rock Valley I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Rock Valley?
A $226,000 home in Rock Valley, Iowa costs approximately $1,992 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $1,232 principal and interest, $263 property tax, $98 homeowners insurance, $210 utilities and $188 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Rock Valley?
Rock Valley has an effective property tax rate of 1.398%, based on a median home value of $225,800 and median real estate taxes of $3,156. That is higher than the Sioux County average of 1.155%.
What is the average home price in Rock Valley?
The median owner-occupied home value in Rock Valley, Iowa is $225,800, against $235,600 across Sioux County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Rock Valley?
Median gross rent in Rock Valley is $1,070 a month, against $1,992 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 Rock Valley?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Rock Valley, Iowa at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $85,500 a year. That covers the full $1,992 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Rock Valley, 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.