The typical owner-occupied home in Story County is worth about $258,700, 24% above the Iowa median of $208,000 and 22% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $3,632 a year in property taxes, about 1.40% of their home's value, close to the Iowa rate of 1.39%. The median household earns $69,685 a year, so the median home costs 3.7 times the median income (2.8 times for Iowa). 56% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 58% of those owners still have a mortgage.
Story County at a glance
| Story County | Iowa | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $258,700 | $208,000 | $332,700 |
| Median property tax paid per year | $3,632 | $2,897 | $3,119 |
| Property tax as a share of value | 1.40% | 1.39% | 0.94% |
| Median household income | $69,685 | $75,059 | $80,734 |
| Homes lived in by their owners | 56% | 72% | 65% |
| Owner homes with a mortgage | 58% | 59% | 61% |
| Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage | $1,710 | $1,533 | $1,963 |
| Those costs as a share of the owners' income | 19.6% | 18.7% | 21.0% |
| Median rent | $1,018 | $972 | $1,413 |
| Rent as a share of renters' income | 29.4% | 27.4% | 30.6% |
| Median year homes were built | 1984 | 1972 | 1980 |
| Vacant homes | 7.1% | 8.5% | 10.1% |
| Population | 100,466 | 3,210,507 | 334,922,499 |
What a typical home costs per month in Story County
At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Story County home of $258,700 with 20% down costs about $1,802 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $2,233, 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 $77,222 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 31% of the median Story County household income of $69,685; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $233,000.
The median rent here is $1,018 a month, so owning the median home costs about $784 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.
| Down payment | $51,740 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $206,960 |
| Principal and interest | $1,392 |
| Property taxes (1.40% a year) | $302 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $108 |
| PMI | $0 |
| Total per month | $1,802 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
| Down payment | $9,054 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $254,014 |
| Principal and interest | $1,709 |
| Property taxes (1.40% a year) | $302 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $108 |
| FHA mortgage insurance | $114 |
| Total per month | $2,233 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
Questions about home buying in Story County
What is the median home value in Story County?
About $258,700 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.
How much are property taxes in Story County?
Homeowners pay a median $3,632 a year, which is about 1.40% 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 Story County?
For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $1,802 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $77,222 a year.
More about Story County
- Mortgage Refinance in Story County
- Debt Relief in Story County
- Home Equity Loans in Story 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