The typical owner-occupied home in Polk County is worth about $262,100, 26% above the Iowa median of $208,000 and 21% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $4,396 a year in property taxes, about 1.68% of their home's value, higher than the Iowa rate of 1.39%. The median household earns $83,576 a year, so the median home costs 3.1 times the median income (2.8 times for Iowa). 67% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 70% of those owners still have a mortgage.
Polk County at a glance
| Polk County | Iowa | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $262,100 | $208,000 | $332,700 |
| Median property tax paid per year | $4,396 | $2,897 | $3,119 |
| Property tax as a share of value | 1.68% | 1.39% | 0.94% |
| Median household income | $83,576 | $75,059 | $80,734 |
| Homes lived in by their owners | 67% | 72% | 65% |
| Owner homes with a mortgage | 70% | 59% | 61% |
| Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage | $1,741 | $1,533 | $1,963 |
| Those costs as a share of the owners' income | 19.0% | 18.7% | 21.0% |
| Median rent | $1,149 | $972 | $1,413 |
| Rent as a share of renters' income | 28.4% | 27.4% | 30.6% |
| Median year homes were built | 1982 | 1972 | 1980 |
| Vacant homes | 6.0% | 8.5% | 10.1% |
| Population | 503,175 | 3,210,507 | 334,922,499 |
What a typical home costs per month in Polk County
At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Polk County home of $262,100 with 20% down costs about $1,887 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $2,323, 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 $80,858 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 27% of the median Polk County household income of $83,576; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $271,000.
The median rent here is $1,149 a month, so owning the median home costs about $738 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.
| Down payment | $52,420 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $209,680 |
| Principal and interest | $1,411 |
| Property taxes (1.68% a year) | $367 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $109 |
| PMI | $0 |
| Total per month | $1,887 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
| Down payment | $9,174 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $257,353 |
| Principal and interest | $1,731 |
| Property taxes (1.68% a year) | $367 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $109 |
| FHA mortgage insurance | $116 |
| Total per month | $2,323 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
Questions about home buying in Polk County
What is the median home value in Polk County?
About $262,100 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.
How much are property taxes in Polk County?
Homeowners pay a median $4,396 a year, which is about 1.68% 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 Polk County?
For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $1,887 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $80,858 a year.
More about Polk County
- Mortgage Refinance in Polk County
- Debt Relief in Polk County
- Home Equity Loans in Polk County
- Guides and quotes for mortgage refinance on our sister site, MortgageRefinance.com
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