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Buying a home in Pella, Iowa

The typical owner-occupied home in Pella is worth about $292,700, 41% above the Iowa median of $208,000 and 12% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $3,678 a year in property taxes, about 1.26% of their home's value, lower than the Iowa rate of 1.39%. The median household earns $84,111 a year, so the median home costs 3.5 times the median income (2.8 times for Iowa). 62% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 65% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Pella at a glance

Pella Iowa U.S.
Median home value $292,700 $208,000 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $3,678 $2,897 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 1.26% 1.39% 0.94%
Median household income $84,111 $75,059 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 62% 72% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 65% 59% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $1,786 $1,533 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 18.5% 18.7% 21.0%
Median rent $1,046 $972 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 27.2% 27.4% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1976 1972 1980
Vacant homes 7.4% 8.5% 10.1%
Population 10,720 3,210,507 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in Pella

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Pella home of $292,700 with 20% down costs about $2,004 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $2,492, 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 $85,907 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 29% of the median Pella household income of $84,111; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $287,000.

The median rent here is $1,046 a month, so owning the median home costs about $958 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$58,540
Loan amount$234,160
Principal and interest$1,575
Property taxes (1.26% a year)$307
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$122
PMI$0
Total per month$2,004

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3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$10,244
Loan amount$287,398
Principal and interest$1,933
Property taxes (1.26% a year)$307
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$122
FHA mortgage insurance$129
Total per month$2,492

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Questions about home buying in Pella

What is the median home value in Pella?

About $292,700 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in Pella?

Homeowners pay a median $3,678 a year, which is about 1.26% 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 Pella?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $2,004 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $85,907 a year.

More about Pella

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