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Buying a home in Sanborn, Iowa

The typical owner-occupied home in Sanborn is worth about $168,500, 19% below the Iowa median of $208,000 and 49% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $1,732 a year in property taxes, about 1.03% of their home's value, lower than the Iowa rate of 1.39%. The median household earns $59,417 a year, so the median home costs 2.8 times the median income (2.8 times for Iowa). 73% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 38% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Sanborn at a glance

Sanborn Iowa U.S.
Median home value $168,500 $208,000 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $1,732 $2,897 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 1.03% 1.39% 0.94%
Median household income $59,417 $75,059 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 73% 72% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 38% 59% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $1,154 $1,533 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 17.5% 18.7% 21.0%
Median rent $954 $972 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 36.0% 27.4% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1967 1972 1980
Vacant homes 2.6% 8.5% 10.1%
Population 1,323 3,210,507 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in Sanborn

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Sanborn home of $168,500 with 20% down costs about $1,122 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $1,402, 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 $48,071 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 23% of the median Sanborn household income of $59,417; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $208,000.

The median rent here is $954 a month, so owning the median home costs about $168 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$33,700
Loan amount$134,800
Principal and interest$907
Property taxes (1.03% a year)$145
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$70
PMI$0
Total per month$1,122

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3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$5,898
Loan amount$165,448
Principal and interest$1,113
Property taxes (1.03% a year)$145
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$70
FHA mortgage insurance$75
Total per month$1,402

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Questions about home buying in Sanborn

What is the median home value in Sanborn?

About $168,500 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in Sanborn?

Homeowners pay a median $1,732 a year, which is about 1.03% 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 Sanborn?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $1,122 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $48,071 a year.

More about Sanborn

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