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Buying a home in Tiffin, Iowa

The typical owner-occupied home in Tiffin is worth about $338,500, 63% above the Iowa median of $208,000 and about the same as the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $5,050 a year in property taxes, about 1.49% of their home's value, higher than the Iowa rate of 1.39%. The median household earns $100,952 a year, so the median home costs 3.4 times the median income (2.8 times for Iowa). 80% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 83% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Tiffin at a glance

Tiffin Iowa U.S.
Median home value $338,500 $208,000 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $5,050 $2,897 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 1.49% 1.39% 0.94%
Median household income $100,952 $75,059 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 80% 72% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 83% 59% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $1,940 $1,533 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 21.1% 18.7% 21.0%
Median rent $1,224 $972 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 20.9% 27.4% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 2012 1972 1980
Vacant homes 0.0% 8.5% 10.1%
Population 5,737 3,210,507 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in Tiffin

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Tiffin home of $338,500 with 20% down costs about $2,383 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $2,947, 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 $102,130 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 28% of the median Tiffin household income of $100,952; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $335,000.

The median rent here is $1,224 a month, so owning the median home costs about $1,159 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$67,700
Loan amount$270,800
Principal and interest$1,822
Property taxes (1.49% a year)$420
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$141
PMI$0
Total per month$2,383

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3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$11,848
Loan amount$332,369
Principal and interest$2,236
Property taxes (1.49% a year)$420
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$141
FHA mortgage insurance$150
Total per month$2,947

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Questions about home buying in Tiffin

What is the median home value in Tiffin?

About $338,500 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in Tiffin?

Homeowners pay a median $5,050 a year, which is about 1.49% 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 Tiffin?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $2,383 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $102,130 a year.

More about Tiffin

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