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Buying a home in Sleepy Eye, Minnesota

The typical owner-occupied home in Sleepy Eye is worth about $147,600, 55% below the Minnesota median of $329,300 and 56% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $1,453 a year in property taxes, about 0.98% of their home's value, close to the Minnesota rate of 1.02%. The median household earns $66,911 a year, so the median home costs 2.2 times the median income (3.7 times for Minnesota). 78% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 60% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Sleepy Eye at a glance

Sleepy Eye Minnesota U.S.
Median home value $147,600 $329,300 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $1,453 $3,357 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 0.98% 1.02% 0.94%
Median household income $66,911 $89,062 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 78% 72% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 60% 64% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $1,233 $1,947 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 16.7% 19.7% 21.0%
Median rent $782 $1,280 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 33.0% 29.2% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1957 1979 1980
Vacant homes 11.1% 9.3% 10.1%
Population 3,444 5,739,445 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in Sleepy Eye

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Sleepy Eye home of $147,600 with 20% down costs about $976 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $1,222, 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 $41,844 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 18% of the median Sleepy Eye household income of $66,911; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $236,000.

The median rent here is $782 a month, so owning the median home costs about $194 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$29,520
Loan amount$118,080
Principal and interest$794
Property taxes (0.98% a year)$121
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$62
PMI$0
Total per month$976

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3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$5,166
Loan amount$144,927
Principal and interest$975
Property taxes (0.98% a year)$121
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$62
FHA mortgage insurance$65
Total per month$1,222

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Questions about home buying in Sleepy Eye

What is the median home value in Sleepy Eye?

About $147,600 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in Sleepy Eye?

Homeowners pay a median $1,453 a year, which is about 0.98% 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 Sleepy Eye?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $976 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $41,844 a year.

More about Sleepy Eye

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