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Buying a home in West Union, Iowa

The typical owner-occupied home in West Union is worth about $121,000, 42% below the Iowa median of $208,000 and 64% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $1,726 a year in property taxes, about 1.43% of their home's value, close to the Iowa rate of 1.39%. The median household earns $53,617 a year, so the median home costs 2.3 times the median income (2.8 times for Iowa). 62% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 50% of those owners still have a mortgage.

West Union at a glance

West Union Iowa U.S.
Median home value $121,000 $208,000 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $1,726 $2,897 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 1.43% 1.39% 0.94%
Median household income $53,617 $75,059 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 62% 72% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 50% 59% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $1,103 $1,533 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 25.7% 18.7% 21.0%
Median rent $967 $972 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 25.1% 27.4% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1958 1972 1980
Vacant homes 15.1% 8.5% 10.1%
Population 2,489 3,210,507 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in West Union

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median West Union home of $121,000 with 20% down costs about $846 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $1,047, 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 $36,248 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 19% of the median West Union household income of $53,617; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $179,000.

The median rent here is $967 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$24,200
Loan amount$96,800
Principal and interest$651
Property taxes (1.43% a year)$144
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$50
PMI$0
Total per month$846

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3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$4,235
Loan amount$118,808
Principal and interest$799
Property taxes (1.43% a year)$144
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$50
FHA mortgage insurance$54
Total per month$1,047

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Questions about home buying in West Union

What is the median home value in West Union?

About $121,000 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in West Union?

Homeowners pay a median $1,726 a year, which is about 1.43% 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 West Union?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $846 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $36,248 a year.

More about West Union

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