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Buying a home in Kensett, Iowa

The typical owner-occupied home in Kensett is worth about $67,100, 68% below the Iowa median of $208,000 and 80% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $935 a year in property taxes, about 1.39% of their home's value, close to the Iowa rate of 1.39%. The median household earns $44,643 a year, so the median home costs 1.5 times the median income (2.8 times for Iowa). 78% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 39% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Kensett at a glance

Kensett Iowa U.S.
Median home value $67,100 $208,000 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $935 $2,897 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 1.39% 1.39% 0.94%
Median household income $44,643 $75,059 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 78% 72% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 39% 59% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $955 $1,533 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 16.5% 18.7% 21.0%
Median rent $650 $972 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 35.7% 27.4% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1938 1972 1980
Vacant homes 10.8% 8.5% 10.1%
Population 270 3,210,507 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in Kensett

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Kensett home of $67,100 with 20% down costs about $467 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $579, 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 $20,005 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 13% of the median Kensett household income of $44,643; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $150,000.

The median rent here is $650 a month, a little more than the monthly cost of owning the median home with 20% down.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$13,420
Loan amount$53,680
Principal and interest$361
Property taxes (1.39% a year)$78
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$28
PMI$0
Total per month$467

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3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$2,348
Loan amount$65,885
Principal and interest$443
Property taxes (1.39% a year)$78
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$28
FHA mortgage insurance$30
Total per month$579

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Questions about home buying in Kensett

What is the median home value in Kensett?

About $67,100 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in Kensett?

Homeowners pay a median $935 a year, which is about 1.39% 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 Kensett?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $467 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $20,005 a year.

More about Kensett

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