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Buying a home in West Point, Iowa

The typical owner-occupied home in West Point is worth about $178,700, 14% below the Iowa median of $208,000 and 46% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $2,147 a year in property taxes, about 1.20% of their home's value, lower than the Iowa rate of 1.39%. The median household earns $73,125 a year, so the median home costs 2.4 times the median income (2.8 times for Iowa). 78% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 49% of those owners still have a mortgage.

West Point at a glance

West Point Iowa U.S.
Median home value $178,700 $208,000 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $2,147 $2,897 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 1.20% 1.39% 0.94%
Median household income $73,125 $75,059 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 78% 72% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 49% 59% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $1,172 $1,533 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 14.5% 18.7% 21.0%
Median rent $617 $972 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 23.5% 27.4% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1973 1972 1980
Vacant homes 8.5% 8.5% 10.1%
Population 840 3,210,507 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in West Point

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median West Point home of $178,700 with 20% down costs about $1,215 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $1,513, 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 $52,065 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 20% of the median West Point household income of $73,125; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $251,000.

The median rent here is $617 a month, so owning the median home costs about $598 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$35,740
Loan amount$142,960
Principal and interest$962
Property taxes (1.20% a year)$179
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$74
PMI$0
Total per month$1,215

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3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$6,254
Loan amount$175,463
Principal and interest$1,180
Property taxes (1.20% a year)$179
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$74
FHA mortgage insurance$79
Total per month$1,513

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Questions about home buying in West Point

What is the median home value in West Point?

About $178,700 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in West Point?

Homeowners pay a median $2,147 a year, which is about 1.20% 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 Point?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $1,215 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $52,065 a year.

More about West Point

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