Income needed to buy a home

Guthrie County, IA

$96,341

a year in household income to buy the typical Guthrie County home with 10% down.

The monthly math

Typical home value$278,566
Down payment (10%)$27,857
Loan$250,709
Principal and interest (7.40%)$1,736/mo
Property tax (1.16% a year)$268/mo
Homeowners insurance (estimate)$139/mo
Mortgage insurance$104/mo
Total monthly cost$2,248/mo

Income needed keeps housing at 28% of gross income, the lender rule of thumb.

What locals earn

A stretch

The typical household here earns $77,711 a year, 81% of what it takes.

In Iowa

Guthrie County ranks #85 of 99 for the income a home takes, from least to most.

Easiest to afford in Iowa

CountyTypical homeIncome needed
Pocahontas County$101,899$34,888
Appanoose County$118,881$41,110
Lee County$125,776$44,079
Wapello County$131,712$46,563
Wright County$136,258$47,713

Typical home value from the Zillow Home Value Index, August 2026. Rate is the Freddie Mac 30-year average for Oct 8, 2026. Property tax rate is total taxes paid divided by total home value in the county (U.S. Census, ACS 2020-2024). How it works.