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Buying a home in Malcom, Iowa

The typical owner-occupied home in Malcom is worth about $109,800, 47% below the Iowa median of $208,000 and 67% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $1,364 a year in property taxes, about 1.24% of their home's value, lower than the Iowa rate of 1.39%. The median household earns $76,750 a year, so the median home costs 1.4 times the median income (2.8 times for Iowa). 88% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 61% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Malcom at a glance

Malcom Iowa U.S.
Median home value $109,800 $208,000 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $1,364 $2,897 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 1.24% 1.39% 0.94%
Median household income $76,750 $75,059 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 88% 72% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 61% 59% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $1,173 $1,533 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 17.2% 18.7% 21.0%
Median rent $638 $972 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 20.8% 27.4% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1972 1972 1980
Vacant homes 15.8% 8.5% 10.1%
Population 221 3,210,507 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in Malcom

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Malcom home of $109,800 with 20% down costs about $750 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $933, 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 $32,148 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 12% of the median Malcom household income of $76,750; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $262,000.

The median rent here is $638 a month, so owning the median home costs about $112 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$21,960
Loan amount$87,840
Principal and interest$591
Property taxes (1.24% a year)$113
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$46
PMI$0
Total per month$750

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3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$3,843
Loan amount$107,811
Principal and interest$725
Property taxes (1.24% a year)$113
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$46
FHA mortgage insurance$49
Total per month$933

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Questions about home buying in Malcom

What is the median home value in Malcom?

About $109,800 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in Malcom?

Homeowners pay a median $1,364 a year, which is about 1.24% 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 Malcom?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $750 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $32,148 a year.

More about Malcom

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