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Buying a home in Washta, Iowa

The typical owner-occupied home in Washta is worth about $48,600, 77% below the Iowa median of $208,000 and 85% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $462 a year in property taxes, about 0.95% of their home's value, lower than the Iowa rate of 1.39%. The median household earns $46,979 a year, so the median home costs 1.0 times the median income (2.8 times for Iowa). 85% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 33% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Washta at a glance

Washta Iowa U.S.
Median home value $48,600 $208,000 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $462 $2,897 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 0.95% 1.39% 0.94%
Median household income $46,979 $75,059 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 85% 72% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 33% 59% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $487 $1,533 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 16.2% 18.7% 21.0%
Median rent $500 $972 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 13.0% 27.4% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1938 1972 1980
Vacant homes 26.2% 8.5% 10.1%
Population 180 3,210,507 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in Washta

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Washta home of $48,600 with 20% down costs about $320 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $401, 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 $13,726 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 8% of the median Washta household income of $46,979; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $166,000.

The median rent here is $500 a month, a little more than the monthly cost of owning the median home with 20% down.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$9,720
Loan amount$38,880
Principal and interest$262
Property taxes (0.95% a year)$38
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$20
PMI$0
Total per month$320

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3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$1,701
Loan amount$47,720
Principal and interest$321
Property taxes (0.95% a year)$38
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$20
FHA mortgage insurance$22
Total per month$401

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Questions about home buying in Washta

What is the median home value in Washta?

About $48,600 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in Washta?

Homeowners pay a median $462 a year, which is about 0.95% 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 Washta?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $320 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $13,726 a year.

More about Washta

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