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Buying a home in Dallas Center, Iowa

The typical owner-occupied home in Dallas Center is worth about $246,800, 19% above the Iowa median of $208,000 and 26% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $3,766 a year in property taxes, about 1.53% of their home's value, higher than the Iowa rate of 1.39%. The median household earns $95,854 a year, so the median home costs 2.6 times the median income (2.8 times for Iowa). 83% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 61% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Dallas Center at a glance

Dallas Center Iowa U.S.
Median home value $246,800 $208,000 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $3,766 $2,897 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 1.53% 1.39% 0.94%
Median household income $95,854 $75,059 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 83% 72% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 61% 59% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $1,866 $1,533 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 20.4% 18.7% 21.0%
Median rent $1,120 $972 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 27.9% 27.4% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1974 1972 1980
Vacant homes 11.7% 8.5% 10.1%
Population 2,161 3,210,507 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in Dallas Center

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Dallas Center home of $246,800 with 20% down costs about $1,746 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $2,157, 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 $74,815 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 22% of the median Dallas Center household income of $95,854; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $316,000.

The median rent here is $1,120 a month, so owning the median home costs about $626 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$49,360
Loan amount$197,440
Principal and interest$1,328
Property taxes (1.53% a year)$315
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$103
PMI$0
Total per month$1,746

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3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$8,638
Loan amount$242,330
Principal and interest$1,630
Property taxes (1.53% a year)$315
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$103
FHA mortgage insurance$109
Total per month$2,157

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Questions about home buying in Dallas Center

What is the median home value in Dallas Center?

About $246,800 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in Dallas Center?

Homeowners pay a median $3,766 a year, which is about 1.53% 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 Center?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $1,746 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $74,815 a year.

More about Dallas Center

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