Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in West Burlington, Iowa
A $127,000 home here costs
$1,218per 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 $52,000 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $692. The real number is $525 higher every month, 76% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Des Moines County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for West Burlington from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 3,184 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 Des Moines 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 Burlington against Des Moines County and Iowa
| Measure | West Burlington | Des Moines County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $126,700 | $137,000 |
| Median property tax | $1,848 | $2,097 |
| Effective tax rate | 1.459% | 1.531% |
| Median gross rent | $780 | $908 |
| Population | 3,184 | 38,597 |
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 $142 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
Talk to someone who works this market
These are West Burlington 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 Burlington every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in West Burlington I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in West Burlington?
A $127,000 home in West Burlington, Iowa costs approximately $1,218 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $692 principal and interest, $154 property tax, $55 homeowners insurance, $210 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 $1,218 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 Burlington?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in West Burlington, Iowa at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $52,000 a year. That covers the full $1,218 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
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.