Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Sergeant Bluff, Iowa
A $288,000 home here costs
$2,454per month, all in, with 20% down at today's 7.32% 30-year fixed rate. By the 28% rule that takes a household income of about $105,000 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,583. The real number is $871 higher every month, 55% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Woodbury 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.
Sergeant Bluff against Woodbury County and Iowa
| Measure | Sergeant Bluff | Woodbury County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $287,600 | $172,000 |
| Median property tax | $3,546 | $2,542 |
| Effective tax rate | 1.233% | 1.478% |
| Median gross rent | $1,232 | $946 |
| Population | 5,090 | 105,760 |
The weather behind that power bill
Sergeant Bluff sits in Woodbury County, which averages a high of 85.0°F in its hottest month and a low of 10.4°F in its coldest, with 29.27" of precipitation a year and 40% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 866 cooling and 6,860 heating degree days, which is what sets the $142 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Woodbury County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Woodbury County
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Sergeant Bluff 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 Sergeant Bluff every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Sergeant Bluff I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Sergeant Bluff?
A $288,000 home in Sergeant Bluff, Iowa costs approximately $2,454 per month with 20% down at 7.32%. That is $1,583 principal and interest, $296 property tax, $125 homeowners insurance, $210 utilities and $240 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Sergeant Bluff?
Sergeant Bluff has an effective property tax rate of 1.233%, based on a median home value of $287,600 and median real estate taxes of $3,546. That is lower than the Woodbury County average of 1.478%.
What is the average home price in Sergeant Bluff?
The median owner-occupied home value in Sergeant Bluff, Iowa is $287,600, against $172,000 across Woodbury County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Sergeant Bluff?
Median gross rent in Sergeant Bluff is $1,232 a month, against $2,454 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 Sergeant Bluff?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Sergeant Bluff, Iowa at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $105,000 a year. That covers the full $2,454 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Sergeant Bluff, 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.