Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in State Center, Iowa
A $156,000 home here costs
$1,407per 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 $60,500 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $851. The real number is $557 higher every month, 65% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Marshall County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for State Center from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 1,548 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 Marshall 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.
State Center against Marshall County and Iowa
| Measure | State Center | Marshall County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $156,300 | $134,100 |
| Median property tax | $1,791 | $2,030 |
| Effective tax rate | 1.146% | 1.514% |
| Median gross rent | $741 | $860 |
| Population | 1,548 | 39,971 |
The weather behind that power bill
State Center sits in Marshall County, which averages a high of 83.1°F in its hottest month and a low of 10.1°F in its coldest, with 32.76" of precipitation a year and 42% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 727 cooling and 6,996 heating degree days, which is what sets the $142 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Marshall County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Marshall County
Talk to someone who works this market
These are State Center 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 State Center every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in State Center I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in State Center?
A $156,000 home in State Center, Iowa costs approximately $1,407 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $851 principal and interest, $149 property tax, $68 homeowners insurance, $210 utilities and $130 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in State Center?
State Center has an effective property tax rate of 1.146%, based on a median home value of $156,300 and median real estate taxes of $1,791. That is lower than the Marshall County average of 1.514%.
What is the average home price in State Center?
The median owner-occupied home value in State Center, Iowa is $156,300, against $134,100 across Marshall County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in State Center?
Median gross rent in State Center is $741 a month, against $1,407 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 State Center?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in State Center, Iowa at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $60,500 a year. That covers the full $1,407 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for State Center, 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.