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Buying a home in Bristow, Iowa

The typical owner-occupied home in Bristow is worth about $65,000, 69% below the Iowa median of $208,000 and 80% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $695 a year in property taxes, about 1.07% of their home's value, lower than the Iowa rate of 1.39%. The median household earns $107,542 a year, so the median home costs 0.6 times the median income (2.8 times for Iowa). 86% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 62% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Bristow at a glance

Bristow Iowa U.S.
Median home value $65,000 $208,000 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $695 $2,897 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 1.07% 1.39% 0.94%
Median household income $107,542 $75,059 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 86% 72% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 62% 59% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $667 $1,533 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 9.0% 18.7% 21.0%
Median rent $358 $972 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 22.5% 27.4% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1950 1972 1980
Vacant homes 15.3% 8.5% 10.1%
Population 197 3,210,507 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in Bristow

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Bristow home of $65,000 with 20% down costs about $435 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $543, 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 $18,636 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 5% of the median Bristow household income of $107,542; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $375,000.

The median rent here is $358 a month, so owning the median home costs about $77 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$13,000
Loan amount$52,000
Principal and interest$350
Property taxes (1.07% a year)$58
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$27
PMI$0
Total per month$435

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3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$2,275
Loan amount$63,823
Principal and interest$429
Property taxes (1.07% a year)$58
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$27
FHA mortgage insurance$29
Total per month$543

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Questions about home buying in Bristow

What is the median home value in Bristow?

About $65,000 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in Bristow?

Homeowners pay a median $695 a year, which is about 1.07% 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 Bristow?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $435 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $18,636 a year.

More about Bristow

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