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Buying a home in Cresco, Iowa

The typical owner-occupied home in Cresco is worth about $117,200, 44% below the Iowa median of $208,000 and 65% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $2,152 a year in property taxes, about 1.84% of their home's value, higher than the Iowa rate of 1.39%. The median household earns $60,608 a year, so the median home costs 1.9 times the median income (2.8 times for Iowa). 75% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 54% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Cresco at a glance

Cresco Iowa U.S.
Median home value $117,200 $208,000 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $2,152 $2,897 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 1.84% 1.39% 0.94%
Median household income $60,608 $75,059 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 75% 72% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 54% 59% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $1,130 $1,533 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 20.1% 18.7% 21.0%
Median rent $715 $972 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 22.8% 27.4% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1962 1972 1980
Vacant homes 10.7% 8.5% 10.1%
Population 3,908 3,210,507 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in Cresco

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Cresco home of $117,200 with 20% down costs about $859 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $1,055, 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 $36,826 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 17% of the median Cresco household income of $60,608; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $193,000.

The median rent here is $715 a month, so owning the median home costs about $144 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$23,440
Loan amount$93,760
Principal and interest$631
Property taxes (1.84% a year)$180
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$49
PMI$0
Total per month$859

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3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$4,102
Loan amount$115,077
Principal and interest$774
Property taxes (1.84% a year)$180
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$49
FHA mortgage insurance$52
Total per month$1,055

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Questions about home buying in Cresco

What is the median home value in Cresco?

About $117,200 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in Cresco?

Homeowners pay a median $2,152 a year, which is about 1.84% 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 Cresco?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $859 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $36,826 a year.

More about Cresco

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