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Buying a home in Norway, Iowa

The typical owner-occupied home in Norway is worth about $158,400, 24% below the Iowa median of $208,000 and 52% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $2,073 a year in property taxes, about 1.31% of their home's value, lower than the Iowa rate of 1.39%. The median household earns $76,667 a year, so the median home costs 2.1 times the median income (2.8 times for Iowa). 92% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 54% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Norway at a glance

Norway Iowa U.S.
Median home value $158,400 $208,000 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $2,073 $2,897 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 1.31% 1.39% 0.94%
Median household income $76,667 $75,059 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 92% 72% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 54% 59% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $1,331 $1,533 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 21.4% 18.7% 21.0%
Median rent $1,073 $972 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 14.1% 27.4% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1960 1972 1980
Vacant homes 5.8% 8.5% 10.1%
Population 546 3,210,507 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in Norway

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Norway home of $158,400 with 20% down costs about $1,091 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $1,355, because the loan is bigger and FHA adds mortgage insurance.

Lenders usually want housing costs under about 28% of gross income, which means an income of roughly $46,773 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 17% of the median Norway household income of $76,667; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $260,000.

The median rent here is $1,073 a month, so owning the median home costs about $18 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$31,680
Loan amount$126,720
Principal and interest$852
Property taxes (1.31% a year)$173
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$66
PMI$0
Total per month$1,091

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3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$5,544
Loan amount$155,531
Principal and interest$1,046
Property taxes (1.31% a year)$173
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$66
FHA mortgage insurance$70
Total per month$1,355

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Questions about home buying in Norway

What is the median home value in Norway?

About $158,400 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in Norway?

Homeowners pay a median $2,073 a year, which is about 1.31% of the median home value. Your bill depends on your home's assessed value and local rates.

What income do you need to buy a home in Norway?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $1,091 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $46,773 a year.

More about Norway

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week of November 12, 2026. Estimates for small places have wide margins of error. About our data