Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Waukon, Iowa
A $134,000 home here costs
$1,276per 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 $54,500 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $731. The real number is $545 higher every month, 75% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Allamakee County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for Waukon from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 3,796 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 Allamakee 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.
Waukon against Allamakee County and Iowa
| Measure | Waukon | Allamakee County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $133,700 | $171,900 |
| Median property tax | $1,979 | $2,103 |
| Effective tax rate | 1.480% | 1.223% |
| Median gross rent | $719 | $717 |
| Population | 3,796 | 14,038 |
The weather behind that power bill
Waukon sits in Allamakee County, which averages a high of 81.3°F in its hottest month and a low of 8.4°F in its coldest, with 39.19" of precipitation a year and 39% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 570 cooling and 7,657 heating degree days, which is what sets the $142 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Allamakee County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Allamakee County
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Waukon 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 Waukon every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Waukon I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Waukon?
A $134,000 home in Waukon, Iowa costs approximately $1,276 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $731 principal and interest, $165 property tax, $58 homeowners insurance, $210 utilities and $112 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Waukon?
Waukon has an effective property tax rate of 1.480%, based on a median home value of $133,700 and median real estate taxes of $1,979. That is higher than the Allamakee County average of 1.223%.
What is the average home price in Waukon?
The median owner-occupied home value in Waukon, Iowa is $133,700, against $171,900 across Allamakee County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Waukon?
Median gross rent in Waukon is $719 a month, against $1,276 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 Waukon?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Waukon, Iowa at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $54,500 a year. That covers the full $1,276 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Waukon, 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.