Cost to Own
United StatesIowaWashington CountyWellman Population 1,539 Data vintage ACS 2023 5-Year Rates updated 2026-07-30

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in Wellman, Iowa

A $149,000 home here costs

$1,334

per month, all in — with 20% down at today's 6.66% 30-year fixed rate.

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $766. The real number is $567 higher every month — 74% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

Wellman median: $149,000
Under 20% adds PMI
Freddie Mac PMMS
US average household

Where every dollar goes

Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.

Principal & interest30-year fixed, $119,200 borrowed $766
Property tax1.477% effective rate for Wellman itself $183
Homeowners insuranceIowa averages $1,043/yr (NAIC), or 0.522% of home value $65
Electricity14.14¢/kWh — Iowa residential average, EIA $127
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $124
Total monthly $1,334

Wellman against Washington County and Iowa

MeasureWellmanWashington County
Median home value$149,000$199,600
Median property tax$2,200$2,688
Effective tax rate1.477%1.347%
Median gross rent$765$862
Population1,53922,539

The weather behind that power bill

Wellman sits in Washington County, which averages a high of 85.0°F in its hottest month and a low of 11.5°F in its coldest, with 37.94" of precipitation a year and 38% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 867 cooling and 6,536 heating degree days, which is what sets the $127 electricity line above.

See the full climate breakdown for Washington County — month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.

Other cities in Washington County

Full Washington County cost breakdown · Every county in Iowa

Common questions

How much does it cost to own a home in Wellman?

A $149,000 home in Wellman, Iowa costs approximately $1,334 per month with 20% down at 6.66%. That is $766 principal and interest, $183 property tax, $65 homeowners insurance, $195 utilities and $124 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in Wellman?

Wellman has an effective property tax rate of 1.477%, based on a median home value of $149,000 and median real estate taxes of $2,200. That is higher than the Washington County average of 1.347%.

What is the average home price in Wellman?

The median owner-occupied home value in Wellman, Iowa is $149,000, against $199,600 across Washington County.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Wellman?

Median gross rent in Wellman is $765 a month, against $1,334 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 Wellman — 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.

Full methodology