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Buying a home in Montrose, Iowa

The typical owner-occupied home in Montrose is worth about $103,500, 50% below the Iowa median of $208,000 and 69% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $1,348 a year in property taxes, about 1.30% of their home's value, lower than the Iowa rate of 1.39%. The median household earns $66,250 a year, so the median home costs 1.6 times the median income (2.8 times for Iowa). 91% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 55% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Montrose at a glance

Montrose Iowa U.S.
Median home value $103,500 $208,000 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $1,348 $2,897 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 1.30% 1.39% 0.94%
Median household income $66,250 $75,059 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 91% 72% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 55% 59% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $1,048 $1,533 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 17.5% 18.7% 21.0%
Median rent $625 $972 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 51.0% 27.4% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1964 1972 1980
Vacant homes 8.2% 8.5% 10.1%
Population 744 3,210,507 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in Montrose

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Montrose home of $103,500 with 20% down costs about $712 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $885, 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 $30,525 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 13% of the median Montrose household income of $66,250; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $225,000.

The median rent here is $625 a month, so owning the median home costs about $87 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$20,700
Loan amount$82,800
Principal and interest$557
Property taxes (1.30% a year)$112
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$43
PMI$0
Total per month$712

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3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$3,622
Loan amount$101,625
Principal and interest$684
Property taxes (1.30% a year)$112
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$43
FHA mortgage insurance$46
Total per month$885

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Questions about home buying in Montrose

What is the median home value in Montrose?

About $103,500 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in Montrose?

Homeowners pay a median $1,348 a year, which is about 1.30% 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 Montrose?

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 $30,525 a year.

More about Montrose

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