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Buying a home in Hiawatha, Iowa

The typical owner-occupied home in Hiawatha is worth about $216,900, 4% above the Iowa median of $208,000 and 35% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $3,802 a year in property taxes, about 1.75% of their home's value, higher than the Iowa rate of 1.39%. The median household earns $66,270 a year, so the median home costs 3.3 times the median income (2.8 times for Iowa). 67% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 60% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Hiawatha at a glance

Hiawatha Iowa U.S.
Median home value $216,900 $208,000 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $3,802 $2,897 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 1.75% 1.39% 0.94%
Median household income $66,270 $75,059 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 67% 72% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 60% 59% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $1,686 $1,533 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 16.4% 18.7% 21.0%
Median rent $855 $972 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 26.4% 27.4% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1992 1972 1980
Vacant homes 7.8% 8.5% 10.1%
Population 7,206 3,210,507 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in Hiawatha

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Hiawatha home of $216,900 with 20% down costs about $1,574 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $1,935, 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 $67,456 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 29% of the median Hiawatha household income of $66,270; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $213,000.

The median rent here is $855 a month, so owning the median home costs about $719 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$43,380
Loan amount$173,520
Principal and interest$1,167
Property taxes (1.75% a year)$316
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$90
PMI$0
Total per month$1,574

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3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$7,592
Loan amount$212,971
Principal and interest$1,433
Property taxes (1.75% a year)$316
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$90
FHA mortgage insurance$96
Total per month$1,935

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Questions about home buying in Hiawatha

What is the median home value in Hiawatha?

About $216,900 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in Hiawatha?

Homeowners pay a median $3,802 a year, which is about 1.75% 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 Hiawatha?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $1,574 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $67,456 a year.

More about Hiawatha

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