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Buying a home in Badger, Iowa

The typical owner-occupied home in Badger is worth about $142,800, 31% below the Iowa median of $208,000 and 57% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $2,027 a year in property taxes, about 1.42% of their home's value, close to the Iowa rate of 1.39%. The median household earns $72,750 a year, so the median home costs 2.0 times the median income (2.8 times for Iowa). 86% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 56% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Badger at a glance

Badger Iowa U.S.
Median home value $142,800 $208,000 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $2,027 $2,897 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 1.42% 1.39% 0.94%
Median household income $72,750 $75,059 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 86% 72% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 56% 59% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $1,048 $1,533 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 14.3% 18.7% 21.0%
Median rent $750 $972 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 27.5% 27.4% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1966 1972 1980
Vacant homes 6.7% 8.5% 10.1%
Population 433 3,210,507 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in Badger

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Badger home of $142,800 with 20% down costs about $997 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $1,235, 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 $42,728 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 16% of the median Badger household income of $72,750; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $243,000.

The median rent here is $750 a month, so owning the median home costs about $247 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$28,560
Loan amount$114,240
Principal and interest$768
Property taxes (1.42% a year)$169
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$60
PMI$0
Total per month$997

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3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$4,998
Loan amount$140,214
Principal and interest$943
Property taxes (1.42% a year)$169
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$60
FHA mortgage insurance$63
Total per month$1,235

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Questions about home buying in Badger

What is the median home value in Badger?

About $142,800 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in Badger?

Homeowners pay a median $2,027 a year, which is about 1.42% 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 Badger?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $997 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $42,728 a year.

More about Badger

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