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Buying a home in Leighton, Iowa

The typical owner-occupied home in Leighton is worth about $126,600, 39% below the Iowa median of $208,000 and 62% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $1,841 a year in property taxes, about 1.45% of their home's value, close to the Iowa rate of 1.39%. The median household earns $66,389 a year, so the median home costs 1.9 times the median income (2.8 times for Iowa). 80% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 66% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Leighton at a glance

Leighton Iowa U.S.
Median home value $126,600 $208,000 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $1,841 $2,897 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 1.45% 1.39% 0.94%
Median household income $66,389 $75,059 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 80% 72% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 66% 59% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $1,106 $1,533 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 21.3% 18.7% 21.0%
Median rent $770 $972 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 15.0% 27.4% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1951 1972 1980
Vacant homes 0.0% 8.5% 10.1%
Population 150 3,210,507 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in Leighton

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Leighton home of $126,600 with 20% down costs about $887 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $1,098, 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 $38,016 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 16% of the median Leighton household income of $66,389; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $221,000.

The median rent here is $770 a month, so owning the median home costs about $117 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$25,320
Loan amount$101,280
Principal and interest$681
Property taxes (1.45% a year)$153
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$53
PMI$0
Total per month$887

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3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$4,431
Loan amount$124,307
Principal and interest$836
Property taxes (1.45% a year)$153
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$53
FHA mortgage insurance$56
Total per month$1,098

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Questions about home buying in Leighton

What is the median home value in Leighton?

About $126,600 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in Leighton?

Homeowners pay a median $1,841 a year, which is about 1.45% 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 Leighton?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $887 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $38,016 a year.

More about Leighton

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