Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in West Branch, Iowa
A $227,000 home here costs
$1,993per month, all in, with 20% down at today's 7.32% 30-year fixed rate. By the 28% rule that takes a household income of about $85,500 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,247. The real number is $746 higher every month, 60% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Johnson County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for West Branch from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 2,526 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 Johnson 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.
West Branch against Johnson County and Iowa
| Measure | West Branch | Johnson County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $226,700 | $293,100 |
| Median property tax | $2,971 | $4,587 |
| Effective tax rate | 1.311% | 1.565% |
| Median gross rent | $958 | $1,104 |
| Population | 2,526 | 154,881 |
West Branch extends across 2 counties. Figures here use Johnson County, where most of its housing sits.
The weather behind that power bill
West Branch 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 $142 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
Talk to someone who works this market
These are West Branch 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 West Branch every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in West Branch I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in West Branch?
A $227,000 home in West Branch, Iowa costs approximately $1,993 per month with 20% down at 7.32%. That is $1,247 principal and interest, $248 property tax, $99 homeowners insurance, $210 utilities and $189 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in West Branch?
West Branch has an effective property tax rate of 1.311%, based on a median home value of $226,700 and median real estate taxes of $2,971. That is lower than the Johnson County average of 1.565%.
What is the average home price in West Branch?
The median owner-occupied home value in West Branch, Iowa is $226,700, against $293,100 across Johnson County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in West Branch?
Median gross rent in West Branch is $958 a month, against $1,993 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 West Branch?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in West Branch, Iowa at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $85,500 a year. That covers the full $1,993 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for West Branch, 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.