How much house can I afford on $70,000 in Iowa?
About $235,000 with 20% down ($190,000 with an FHA loan), using Iowa's 1.27% property tax rate.
That is $1,321 less than the typical Iowa home ($236,623), so on $70,000 you'd look at cheaper areas or a smaller home. The payment of $1,633 covers $1,266 principal and interest, $249 property tax and $118 insurance.
Counties in Iowa you can afford on $70,000
72 of 99 counties have a typical home value at or below $235,000. The 25 priciest of them:
| County | Typical home | 1-yr change | Tax rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa County | $233,726 | +4.6% | 1.36% |
| Boone County | $232,390 | +2.6% | 1.37% |
| Davis County | $232,165 | +2.0% | 1.4% |
| Jasper County | $229,091 | +4.2% | 1.41% |
| Harrison County | $223,581 | +4.6% | 1.32% |
| Poweshiek County | $223,287 | +7.8% | 1.22% |
| Grundy County | $218,375 | +2.0% | 1.14% |
| Chickasaw County | $216,973 | +5.1% | 1.02% |
| Buchanan County | $215,302 | +4.7% | 1.36% |
| Mitchell County | $213,898 | +4.1% | 1.1% |
| Shelby County | $212,688 | +4.2% | 1.28% |
| Carroll County | $212,289 | +6.1% | 1.09% |
| Woodbury County | $207,499 | +2.8% | 1.45% |
| Muscatine County | $205,712 | +5.6% | 1.5% |
| Cerro Gordo County | $204,868 | +3.0% | 1.45% |
| Howard County | $204,056 | +9.3% | 1.25% |
| Mahaska County | $200,948 | +8.5% | 1.32% |
| Adair County | $197,786 | +8.4% | 1.28% |
| Clarke County | $197,299 | +2.6% | 1.6% |
| Clay County | $195,966 | +4.2% | 1.15% |
| O Brien County | $194,875 | +8.0% | 0.98% |
| Henry County | $192,451 | +6.2% | 1.56% |
| Marshall County | $192,339 | +3.6% | 1.42% |
| Worth County | $190,414 | +4.6% | 1.1% |
| Butler County | $190,215 | +4.8% | 1.35% |
Affordable metro areas
Assumes a 30-year fixed loan at 7.11%, property tax of 1.27% of the home value a year, homeowners insurance of 0.6% a year, PMI of 0.5% of the loan a year when the down payment is under 20%, and FHA mortgage insurance of 0.55% a year plus a 1.75% upfront premium added to the loan. Your rate, taxes and insurance will differ.
Other salaries in Iowa
Frequently asked questions
How much house can I afford on $70,000 in Iowa?
About $235,000 with 20% down at 7.11%, keeping the payment (with Iowa's 1.27% property tax and insurance) under $1,633 a month.
Is $70,000 enough to buy a house in Iowa?
Not the typical home: the typical Iowa home is worth $236,623 (Zillow, September 2026) and $70,000 supports about $235,000. 72 of 99 counties are within budget.