Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Van Meter, Iowa
A $250,000 home here costs
$2,174per 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 $93,000 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,363. The real number is $811 higher every month, 59% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Dallas County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for Van Meter from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 1,469 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 Dallas 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.
Van Meter against Dallas County and Iowa
| Measure | Van Meter | Dallas County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $250,300 | $333,400 |
| Median property tax | $3,409 | $4,849 |
| Effective tax rate | 1.362% | 1.454% |
| Median gross rent | $947 | $1,239 |
| Population | 1,469 | 104,136 |
The weather behind that power bill
Van Meter sits in Dallas County, which averages a high of 85.4°F in its hottest month and a low of 10.2°F in its coldest, with 36.12" of precipitation a year and 40% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 895 cooling and 6,740 heating degree days, which is what sets the $142 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Dallas County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Dallas County
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Van Meter 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 Van Meter every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Van Meter I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Van Meter?
A $250,000 home in Van Meter, Iowa costs approximately $2,174 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $1,363 principal and interest, $284 property tax, $109 homeowners insurance, $210 utilities and $208 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Van Meter?
Van Meter has an effective property tax rate of 1.362%, based on a median home value of $250,300 and median real estate taxes of $3,409. That is lower than the Dallas County average of 1.454%.
What is the average home price in Van Meter?
The median owner-occupied home value in Van Meter, Iowa is $250,300, against $333,400 across Dallas County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Van Meter?
Median gross rent in Van Meter is $947 a month, against $2,174 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 Van Meter?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Van Meter, Iowa at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $93,000 a year. That covers the full $2,174 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Van Meter, 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.