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Buying a home in Dallas County, Iowa

The typical owner-occupied home in Dallas County is worth about $355,600, 71% above the Iowa median of $208,000 and 7% above the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $5,001 a year in property taxes, about 1.41% of their home's value, close to the Iowa rate of 1.39%. The median household earns $102,379 a year, so the median home costs 3.5 times the median income (2.8 times for Iowa). 69% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 69% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Dallas County at a glance

Dallas County Iowa U.S.
Median home value $355,600 $208,000 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $5,001 $2,897 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 1.41% 1.39% 0.94%
Median household income $102,379 $75,059 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 69% 72% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 69% 59% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $2,160 $1,533 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 18.3% 18.7% 21.0%
Median rent $1,311 $972 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 24.9% 27.4% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 2006 1972 1980
Vacant homes 5.2% 8.5% 10.1%
Population 107,968 3,210,507 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in Dallas County

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Dallas County home of $355,600 with 20% down costs about $2,480 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $3,072, 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 $106,274 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 29% of the median Dallas County household income of $102,379; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $343,000.

The median rent here is $1,311 a month, so owning the median home costs about $1,169 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$71,120
Loan amount$284,480
Principal and interest$1,914
Property taxes (1.41% a year)$418
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$148
PMI$0
Total per month$2,480

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3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$12,446
Loan amount$349,159
Principal and interest$2,349
Property taxes (1.41% a year)$418
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$148
FHA mortgage insurance$157
Total per month$3,072

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Questions about home buying in Dallas County

What is the median home value in Dallas County?

About $355,600 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in Dallas County?

Homeowners pay a median $5,001 a year, which is about 1.41% 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 Dallas County?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $2,480 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $106,274 a year.

More about Dallas County

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