Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Roland, Iowa
A $173,000 home here costs
$1,568per 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 $67,000 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $958. The real number is $610 higher every month, 64% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Story County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for Roland from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 1,458 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 Story 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.
Roland against Story County and Iowa
| Measure | Roland | Story County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $173,100 | $243,600 |
| Median property tax | $2,274 | $3,586 |
| Effective tax rate | 1.314% | 1.472% |
| Median gross rent | $983 | $1,019 |
| Population | 1,458 | 98,592 |
The weather behind that power bill
Roland sits in Story County, which averages a high of 83.9°F in its hottest month and a low of 10.9°F in its coldest, with 35.91" of precipitation a year and 41% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 786 cooling and 6,748 heating degree days, which is what sets the $133 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Story County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Story County
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Roland 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 Roland every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Roland I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Roland?
A $173,000 home in Roland, Iowa costs approximately $1,568 per month with 20% down at 7.4%. That is $958 principal and interest, $189 property tax, $75 homeowners insurance, $201 utilities and $144 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Roland?
Roland has an effective property tax rate of 1.314%, based on a median home value of $173,100 and median real estate taxes of $2,274. That is lower than the Story County average of 1.472%.
What is the average home price in Roland?
The median owner-occupied home value in Roland, Iowa is $173,100, against $243,600 across Story County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Roland?
Median gross rent in Roland is $983 a month, against $1,568 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 Roland?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Roland, Iowa at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $67,000 a year. That covers the full $1,568 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Roland, 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.