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Buying a home in Primghar, Iowa

The typical owner-occupied home in Primghar is worth about $147,500, 29% below the Iowa median of $208,000 and 56% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $1,425 a year in property taxes, about 0.97% of their home's value, lower than the Iowa rate of 1.39%. The median household earns $78,750 a year, so the median home costs 1.9 times the median income (2.8 times for Iowa). 82% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 54% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Primghar at a glance

Primghar Iowa U.S.
Median home value $147,500 $208,000 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $1,425 $2,897 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 0.97% 1.39% 0.94%
Median household income $78,750 $75,059 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 82% 72% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 54% 59% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $1,189 $1,533 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 18.2% 18.7% 21.0%
Median rent $792 $972 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 28.8% 27.4% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1965 1972 1980
Vacant homes 6.8% 8.5% 10.1%
Population 1,014 3,210,507 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in Primghar

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Primghar home of $147,500 with 20% down costs about $974 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $1,220, 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 $41,763 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 15% of the median Primghar household income of $78,750; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $278,000.

The median rent here is $792 a month, so owning the median home costs about $182 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$29,500
Loan amount$118,000
Principal and interest$794
Property taxes (0.97% a year)$119
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$61
PMI$0
Total per month$974

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3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$5,162
Loan amount$144,828
Principal and interest$974
Property taxes (0.97% a year)$119
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$61
FHA mortgage insurance$65
Total per month$1,220

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Questions about home buying in Primghar

What is the median home value in Primghar?

About $147,500 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in Primghar?

Homeowners pay a median $1,425 a year, which is about 0.97% 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 Primghar?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $974 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $41,763 a year.

More about Primghar

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