Cost to Own
United StatesIowaDes Moines CountyWest Burlington Population 3,184 Data vintage ACS 2023 5-Year Rates updated 2026-07-30

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in West Burlington, Iowa

A $127,000 home here costs

$1,164

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

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $653. The real number is $511 higher every month — 78% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

West Burlington median: $126,700
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, $101,600 borrowed $653
Property tax1.459% effective rate for West Burlington itself $154
Homeowners insuranceIowa averages $1,043/yr (NAIC), or 0.522% of home value $55
Electricity14.14¢/kWh — Iowa residential average, EIA $127
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $106
Total monthly $1,164

West Burlington against Des Moines County and Iowa

MeasureWest BurlingtonDes Moines County
Median home value$126,700$137,000
Median property tax$1,848$2,097
Effective tax rate1.459%1.531%
Median gross rent$780$908
Population3,18438,597

The weather behind that power bill

West Burlington sits in Des Moines County, which averages a high of 85.2°F in its hottest month and a low of 16.4°F in its coldest, with 37.86" of precipitation a year and 37% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 1,083 cooling and 5,820 heating degree days, which is what sets the $127 electricity line above.

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

Other cities in Des Moines County

Full Des Moines County cost breakdown · Every county in Iowa

Common questions

How much does it cost to own a home in West Burlington?

A $127,000 home in West Burlington, Iowa costs approximately $1,164 per month with 20% down at 6.66%. That is $653 principal and interest, $154 property tax, $55 homeowners insurance, $195 utilities and $106 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in West Burlington?

West Burlington has an effective property tax rate of 1.459%, based on a median home value of $126,700 and median real estate taxes of $1,848. That is lower than the Des Moines County average of 1.531%.

What is the average home price in West Burlington?

The median owner-occupied home value in West Burlington, Iowa is $126,700, against $137,000 across Des Moines County.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in West Burlington?

Median gross rent in West Burlington is $780 a month, against $1,164 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 West Burlington — 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