The typical owner-occupied home in Cherokee County is worth about $158,700, 24% below the Iowa median of $208,000 and 52% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $1,569 a year in property taxes, about 0.99% of their home's value, lower than the Iowa rate of 1.39%. The median household earns $71,269 a year, so the median home costs 2.2 times the median income (2.8 times for Iowa). 76% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 50% of those owners still have a mortgage.
Cherokee County at a glance
| Cherokee County | Iowa | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $158,700 | $208,000 | $332,700 |
| Median property tax paid per year | $1,569 | $2,897 | $3,119 |
| Property tax as a share of value | 0.99% | 1.39% | 0.94% |
| Median household income | $71,269 | $75,059 | $80,734 |
| Homes lived in by their owners | 76% | 72% | 65% |
| Owner homes with a mortgage | 50% | 59% | 61% |
| Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage | $1,307 | $1,533 | $1,963 |
| Those costs as a share of the owners' income | 14.8% | 18.7% | 21.0% |
| Median rent | $758 | $972 | $1,413 |
| Rent as a share of renters' income | 29.6% | 27.4% | 30.6% |
| Median year homes were built | 1958 | 1972 | 1980 |
| Vacant homes | 9.2% | 8.5% | 10.1% |
| Population | 11,600 | 3,210,507 | 334,922,499 |
What a typical home costs per month in Cherokee County
At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Cherokee County home of $158,700 with 20% down costs about $1,051 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $1,315, 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 $45,048 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 18% of the median Cherokee County household income of $71,269; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $251,000.
The median rent here is $758 a month, so owning the median home costs about $293 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.
| Down payment | $31,740 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $126,960 |
| Principal and interest | $854 |
| Property taxes (0.99% a year) | $131 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $66 |
| PMI | $0 |
| Total per month | $1,051 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
| Down payment | $5,554 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $155,826 |
| Principal and interest | $1,048 |
| Property taxes (0.99% a year) | $131 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $66 |
| FHA mortgage insurance | $70 |
| Total per month | $1,315 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
Questions about home buying in Cherokee County
What is the median home value in Cherokee County?
About $158,700 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.
How much are property taxes in Cherokee County?
Homeowners pay a median $1,569 a year, which is about 0.99% 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 Cherokee County?
For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $1,051 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $45,048 a year.
More about Cherokee County
- Mortgage Refinance in Cherokee County
- Debt Relief in Cherokee County
- Home Equity Loans in Cherokee County
- Guides and quotes for mortgage refinance on our sister site, MortgageRefinance.com
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