Income needed to buy a home
Palo Alto County, IA
$60,060
a year in household income to buy the typical Palo Alto County home with 10% down.
The monthly math
Typical home value$175,307
Down payment (10%)$17,531
Loan$157,776
Principal and interest (7.40%)$1,092/mo
Property tax (1.06% a year)$156/mo
Homeowners insurance (estimate)$88/mo
Mortgage insurance$66/mo
Total monthly cost$1,401/mo
Income needed keeps housing at 28% of gross income, the lender rule of thumb.
What locals earn
Within reach
The typical household here earns $72,781 a year, 21% more than it takes.
In Iowa
Palo Alto County ranks #30 of 99 for the income a home takes, from least to most.
Easiest to afford in Iowa
| County | Typical home | Income 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.