Palo Alto County, Iowa home prices
Typical home $170,587 · +3.5% in a year · property tax 1.2%
The typical home in Palo Alto County is worth $170,587, 28% less than the Iowa typical home ($236,623). Values changed +3.5% in the past year and +31.3% over five years. Homeowners here pay a median 1.2% of their home's value in property tax each year ($2,041 on the typical home), versus 1.27% statewide.
Mortgage on the typical Palo Alto County home
| Down payment | Cash down | Loan | Principal + interest | PMI / MIP | Tax + insurance | Total / month | Income needed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20% down | $34,117 | $136,469 | $918 | $0 | $255 | $1,173 | $50,300 |
| 10% down | $17,059 | $153,528 | $1,033 | $64 | $255 | $1,352 | $57,900 |
| 5% down | $8,529 | $162,057 | $1,090 | $68 | $255 | $1,413 | $60,600 |
| 3.5% down (FHA) | $5,971 | $167,497 | $1,127 | $75 | $255 | $1,458 | $62,500 |
Assumes a 30-year fixed loan at 7.11%, property tax of 1.2% 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.
What it takes: see what you can afford by salary in Iowa.
Iowa counties with similar prices
| County | Typical home | 1-yr change | Tax rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kossuth County | $170,807 | +1.5% | 1% |
| Hamilton County | $171,544 | +3.3% | 1.26% |
| Osceola County | $172,227 | +7.9% | 1.13% |
| Decatur County | $168,940 | +11.6% | 1.61% |
| Tama County | $172,586 | +1.7% | 1.37% |
| Monroe County | $173,200 | +4.9% | 1.37% |
| Louisa County | $173,554 | +4.0% | 1.17% |
| Lucas County | $173,859 | +1.4% | 1.37% |
| Greene County | $174,191 | +3.5% | 1.15% |
| Sac County | $175,121 | +12.0% | 1.1% |
Frequently asked questions
What is the average home price in Palo Alto County, IA?
The typical home value in Palo Alto County is $170,587 (Zillow Home Value Index, September 2026).
How much do you need to earn to buy a house in Palo Alto County?
About $50,300 a year for the typical home with 20% down at a 7.11% 30-year rate.
What is the property tax rate in Palo Alto County?
The median effective rate is 1.2% of home value a year (Census ACS 2024 5-year estimates).