Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in University Heights, Iowa
A $393,000 home here costs
$3,250per month, all in — with 20% down at today's 6.66% 30-year fixed rate.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $2,020. The real number is $1,230 higher every month — 61% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Where every dollar goes
Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.
University Heights against Johnson County and Iowa
| Measure | University Heights | Johnson County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $393,200 | $293,100 |
| Median property tax | $6,439 | $4,587 |
| Effective tax rate | 1.638% | 1.565% |
| Median gross rent | $1,417 | $1,104 |
| Population | 1,232 | 154,881 |
The weather behind that power bill
University Heights sits in Johnson County, which averages a high of 85.8°F in its hottest month and a low of 14.6°F in its coldest, with 35.68" of precipitation a year and 38% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 1,045 cooling and 6,114 heating degree days, which is what sets the $127 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Johnson County — month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Johnson County
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in University Heights?
A $393,000 home in University Heights, Iowa costs approximately $3,250 per month with 20% down at 6.66%. That is $2,020 principal and interest, $536 property tax, $171 homeowners insurance, $195 utilities and $328 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in University Heights?
University Heights has an effective property tax rate of 1.638%, based on a median home value of $393,200 and median real estate taxes of $6,439. That is higher than the Johnson County average of 1.565%.
What is the average home price in University Heights?
The median owner-occupied home value in University Heights, Iowa is $393,200, against $293,100 across Johnson County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in University Heights?
Median gross rent in University Heights is $1,417 a month, against $3,250 to own the median home all in. Renting costs less month to month here, though renting builds no equity.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for University Heights — 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.