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Buying a home in Leon, Iowa

The typical owner-occupied home in Leon is worth about $99,800, 52% below the Iowa median of $208,000 and 70% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $1,593 a year in property taxes, about 1.60% of their home's value, higher than the Iowa rate of 1.39%. The median household earns $54,231 a year, so the median home costs 1.8 times the median income (2.8 times for Iowa). 51% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 44% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Leon at a glance

Leon Iowa U.S.
Median home value $99,800 $208,000 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $1,593 $2,897 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 1.60% 1.39% 0.94%
Median household income $54,231 $75,059 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 51% 72% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 44% 59% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $1,158 $1,533 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 18.8% 18.7% 21.0%
Median rent $577 $972 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 15.9% 27.4% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1957 1972 1980
Vacant homes 18.7% 8.5% 10.1%
Population 1,899 3,210,507 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in Leon

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Leon home of $99,800 with 20% down costs about $712 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $878, 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 $30,503 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 16% of the median Leon household income of $54,231; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $177,000.

The median rent here is $577 a month, so owning the median home costs about $135 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$19,960
Loan amount$79,840
Principal and interest$537
Property taxes (1.60% a year)$133
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$42
PMI$0
Total per month$712

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3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$3,493
Loan amount$97,992
Principal and interest$659
Property taxes (1.60% a year)$133
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$42
FHA mortgage insurance$44
Total per month$878

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Questions about home buying in Leon

What is the median home value in Leon?

About $99,800 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in Leon?

Homeowners pay a median $1,593 a year, which is about 1.60% 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 Leon?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $712 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $30,503 a year.

More about Leon

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