In Pella, a typical home is worth $292,700 and typical rent is $1,046 a month. Compared with all of Marion County, the typical home value is 26% higher, typical rent is 18% higher, and the share of households that own their home is 15 points lower.
Typical home value from Zillow, September 2021 to September 2026: from $279,270 to $359,062.
Typical rent
$1,052a month
▲ 5.4% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent from Zillow, December 2024 to September 2026: from $945 to $1,052.
From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).
Pella is in Marion County. The FHA loan limit ($541,287 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Marion County. See the county
What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.
1
Nearby, in Oskaloosa, the typical home value is $153,300: 48% less than in Pella ($292,700).
2
62% of households in Pella own their home, against 78% in Marion County.
3
Nearby, in Knoxville, the typical rent is $801: 23% less than in Pella ($1,046).
4
The typical home in Pella is worth $292,700,26% more than in Marion County as a whole ($233,000).
5
The typical rent in Pella is $1,046 a month, 18% more than in Marion County as a whole ($884).
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).
The homes here
Housing in Pella
What homes there are in Pella, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).
What homes there are
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
Kind of home
Detached houseAttached houseBuilding of 2 to 4Apartments (5 or more)Mobile homeBoat, RV and otherUnreliable estimate
Pella
Marion County
Iowa
United States
Kind of home: Pella and its comparisons
Measure
Pella
Marion County
Iowa
United States
Detached house
64%
78%
72%
61%
Attached house
7%
3%
5%
6%
Building of 2 to 4
10%
6%
6%
8%
Apartments (5 or more)
18%
9%
14%
19%
Mobile home
Unreliable estimate
5%
3%
6%
Boat, RV and other
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
0%
0%
Detached houses are the majority in Pella (64%), but less so than in Marion County (78%).
Year built
Before 19601960–19791980–19992000–20092010 or later
Pella
Marion County
Iowa
United States
Year built: Pella and its comparisons
Measure
Pella
Marion County
Iowa
United States
Before 1960
23%
30%
38%
26%
1960–1979
38%
31%
24%
24%
1980–1999
21%
20%
17%
25%
2000–2009
10%
11%
11%
14%
2010 or later
8%
8%
11%
11%
In Pella, half of the homes were built before 1976; in Marion County, before 1975.
By size, homes in Pella look like those in Marion County: 65% have 3 bedrooms or more.
What it costs here
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
Value of owner-occupied homes
Unreliable estimate
Under $100KUnreliable
$100K–$200K13%
$200K–$300K34%
$300K–$500K35%
$500K–$750K12%
$750K–$1MUnreliable
$1M or moreUnreliable
Value of owner-occupied homes: Pella and its comparisons
Measure
Pella
Under $100K
Unreliable estimate
$100K–$200K
13%
$200K–$300K
34%
$300K–$500K
35%
$500K–$750K
12%
$750K–$1M
Unreliable estimate
$1M or more
Unreliable
Monthly rent with utilities
Unreliable estimate
Under $500Unreliable
$500–$99941%
$1,000–$1,49933%
$1,500–$1,99911%
$2,000–$2,499Unreliable
$2,500–$2,999Unreliable
$3,000 or moreUnreliable
Monthly rent with utilities: Pella and its comparisons
Measure
Pella
Under $500
Unreliable estimate
$500–$999
41%
$1,000–$1,499
33%
$1,500–$1,999
11%
$2,000–$2,499
Unreliable estimate
$2,500–$2,999
Unreliable estimate
$3,000 or more
Unreliable estimate
With a mortgage
$1,786 a month
Marion County: $1,546 a month
Without a mortgage
$684 a month
Marion County: $608 a month
Owners with a mortgage
65%
Marion County: 59%
Owning costs more in Pella: with a mortgage, the typical cost is $1,786 a month; in Marion County, $1,546. Without one, $684.
How it changed
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024
Change since 2015–2019
Typical home value
Pella+56%
Marion County+48%
Iowa+41%
United States+53%
Typical rent
Pella+22%
Marion County+23%
Iowa+23%
United States+33%
Typical household income
Pella+22%
Marion County+29%
Iowa+24%
United States+29%
Change since 2015–2019: Pella and its comparisons
Measure
Pella
Marion County
Iowa
United States
Typical home value
+56%
+48%
+41%
+53%
Typical rent
+22%
+23%
+23%
+33%
Typical household income
+22%
+29%
+24%
+29%
The typical home value in Pella rose 56% since 2015–2019, more than in Marion County (48%).
Much as in Marion County, the typical rent in Pella rose 22% since 2015–2019.
While home values in Pella changed +56% and rent +22%, the typical household income rose 22%.
How people live
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
How people live: Pella and its comparisons
Measure
Pella
Marion County
Iowa
United States
Rental vacancy
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
5.7%
5.5%
Homeowner vacancy
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
0.8%
0.9%
More than one person per room
Unreliable estimate
1.6%
1.6%
3.4%
People per household
2.33
2.40
2.36
2.53
Drive alone
77%
79%
76%
69%
Carpool
3%
6%
8%
9%
Public transit
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
1%
3%
Walk or bike
9%
4%
3%
3%
Work from home
10%
10%
11%
15%
Other means
Unreliable estimate
2%
1%
2%
Typical commute
under 10 minutes
10 to 19 minutes
10 to 19 minutes
20 to 29 minutes
A household in Pella has 2.33 people on average, about the same as in Marion County (2.40).
Many here get to work on foot or by bike: 9%, more than in Marion County (4%).
Do the math
What would you pay each month for a home in Pella?
A typical home is tight for the typical income
We start with a typical home in Pella, worth $292,700, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 36% of the typical household income in Pella, which is $84,111 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $107,387 a year.
The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Marion County.
Change the price, the down payment or the loan: the payment updates right away.
Your numbers
Local data
$
Starts at the typical home value in Pella. Change it to the price you have in mind.
Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.
Down payment
%
That is $10,245 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.
This week's average ± a quarter or half point.
National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.
Adjust advanced details⌄
Estimated monthly payment
Local data
$2,506
at 7.18% · 30 years
Loan amount
$287,398
Total interest
$413,498
Paid off in
November 2056
Includes $4,943 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.
Does it fit the income?
Comfortable
up to $1,963 a month
Tight
$1,963 to $2,523 a month
Your payment · 36%
Hard
more than $2,523 a month
Compared with the typical household income in Pella ($84,111 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.
Monthly payment breakdown
Principal & interest
$1,947
Property tax
$307
Home insurance
$122
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)
$129
You need at least $10,245 for the down payment, plus closing costs.
This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.
Total monthly payment $2,506; principal and interest $1,947.
The city and its county
Pella and Marion County
Pella is in Marion County, Iowa. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).
Pella
Map of Marion County, Iowa, with Pella marked. Around it, the neighboring counties.
Pella
Marion County
Other cities with a page
Pella's own numbers
Typical home value
$292,700
Typical monthly rent
$1,046
Typical yearly household income
$84,111
Households that own their home
62%
Effective property tax rate
1.26%
U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).
Numbers for all of Marion County
FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,021
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+50%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
1.7%
HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.
Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Marion County.
A typical home in Pella is worth $292,700: 26% above the county and 41% above Iowa. With the typical household income in Pella ($84,111 a year), a typical home costs 3.5 times what the household earns in a year.
Years of income to pay for a typical home
The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.
Pella3.5 years
Marion3.0 years
Iowa2.8 years
United States4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024
How prices have changed in Marion County
According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Marion County rose 80% in the 10 years through 2025.
FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Marion County.
Yearly change in FHFA’s price index in Marion County, 2016 to 2025
2016: +0.9% +0.9% 2016
2017: +6.6% +6.6% 2017
2018: +4.8% +4.8% 2018
2019: +5.7% +5.7% 2019
2020: +0.5% +0.5% 2020
2021: +9.5% +9.5% 2021
2022: +14.8% +14.8% 2022
2023: +6.7% +6.7% 2023
2024: +5.1% +5.1% 2024
2025: +6.4% +6.4% 2025
Change in FHFA’s price index in Marion County, Iowa and the United States
Period
County
Iowa
U.S.
Last year (2025)
+6.4%
+3.2%
+2.9%
5 years (2020–2025)
+50%
+41%
+47%
10 years (2015–2025)
+80%
+65%
+85%
The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data
Pella next to Marion County, Iowa and the U.S.
Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.
Typical home value
Pella$292,700
Marion$233,000
Iowa$208,000
United States$332,700
Typical monthly rent
Pella$1,046
Marion$884
Iowa$972
United States$1,413
Typical yearly household income
Pella$84,111
Marion$78,680
Iowa$75,059
United States$80,734
See the full table
Pella next to Marion County and Iowa
Measure
Pella
Marion County
Iowa
U.S.
Typical home value
$292,700 ▲26% above the county
$233,000
$208,000
$332,700
Typical monthly rent
$1,046 ▲18% above the county
$884
$972
$1,413
Typical yearly household income
$84,111 ▲7% above the county
$78,680
$75,059
$80,734
Households that own their home
62% ▼15 points below the county
78%
72%
65%
Typical yearly property tax
$3,678 ▲29% above the county
$2,848
$2,897
$3,119
Effective property tax rate
1.26% ▲0.04 points above the county
1.22%
1.39%
0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income
40% ▲2 points above the county
38%
44%
51%
“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Marion County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.
Four ways to pay for a typical home in Pella
For a typical $292,700 home in Pella, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Pella's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.
FHA, 3.5% down$2,506a month
Least cash to close
Down payment
$10,245
Cash to close
$19,026
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
FHA MIP · $129
Conventional, 5% down$2,452a month
Down payment
$14,635
Cash to close
$23,416
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
PMI · $139
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI$2,016a month
Down payment
$58,540
Cash to close
$67,321
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
ITIN, 15% down (example)$2,286a month
Down payment
$43,905
Cash to close
$52,686
Rate
8.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
Four ways to pay for a typical home in Pella
Loan
Monthly payment
Down payment
Loan amount
Rate
Mortgage insurance
Cash to close
Minimum score
FHA, 3.5% down Least cash to close
$2,506
$10,245
$287,398
7.18%
FHA MIP · $129
$19,026
580
Conventional, 5% down
$2,452
$14,635
$278,065
7.18%
PMI · $139
$23,416
620*
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI
$2,016
$58,540
$234,160
7.18%
None
$67,321
620*
ITIN, 15% down (example)
$2,286
$43,905
$248,795
8.18%
None
$52,686
Set by the lender
The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.
Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.
Typical rent in Pella is $1,046 a month: 18% above the county. In Pella, 40% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.
HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Marion County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,021 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $19.63 an hour working full time.
What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.
HUD fair market rent in Marion County (Fiscal year 2027)
Size
Fair rent a month
Hourly wage
Yearly income
Studio
$711
$13.67
$28,440
1 bedroom
$826
$15.88
$33,040
2 bedrooms
$1,021
$19.63
$40,840
3 bedrooms
$1,217
$23.40
$48,680
4 bedrooms
$1,378
$26.50
$55,120
Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027
By ZIP code
Fair market rent by ZIP code in Pella
HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Pella is in ZIP code 50219.
For 2 bedrooms it is $1,190: $169 more than the fair market rent for Marion County ($1,021).
Fair market rent by ZIP code and size in Pella, fiscal year 2027.
ZIP code
Studio
1 bd
2 bd
3 bd
4 bd
50219
$830
$960
$1,190
$1,420
$1,600
ZIP code2 bd3 bd
50219 $1,190$1,420
1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Pella when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD)Fiscal year 2027Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (external site)Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship fileData from 2020 dataCensus Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (external site)
HUD lists 3 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Pella. These are the largest.
The Reserves at Mill Farm1135 W 16th St, Pella 5021932 homes, 31 low-income · 2 bd: 16 · In service since 2014 · For families
Fair Haven West604 E 2nd St, Pella 5021929 low-income homes · For older adults(641) 620-9163
Shady Creek Apts210 E Jefferson St, Pella 5021948 homes, 24 low-income · 1 bd: 15 · 2 bd: 9 · In service since 2000 · For people with disabilities, families
You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.
We found no HUD-approved agencies with an office in Marion County. The nearest ones are below; many serve by phone or online.
No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Pella or Marion County. The ones below are statewide in Iowa: they work in Pella the same as in the rest of the state.
With the Iowa state authority's FirstHome mortgage, a first-time buyer can get a second loan of up to 3% of the price (maximum $10,000) or up to 5% (maximum $15,000), with no monthly payments, repaid when you sell, refinance or pay off the mortgage.Offered by Iowa Finance Authority (IFA).
Iowa state authority second loan, with the Homes for Iowans mortgage, of up to 3% of the price (maximum $10,000) or 5% (maximum $15,000) for the down payment and closing costs; no monthly payments, and for any buyer.Offered by Iowa Finance Authority (IFA).
No legal help resource on our list is for Pella or Marion County in particular.
If you have a problem with your landlord, an eviction notice or a scam, the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) search shows the free legal aid offices that serve your area.
Short answers with the numbers for Pella and all of Marion County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.
How much does a typical home cost in Pella?
The typical home value in Pella is $292,700, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Marion County it is $233,000.
How much does it cost to rent in Pella?
Typical rent in Pella is $1,046 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Marion County is $1,021.
What is the FHA loan limit in Pella?
Pella uses the FHA limit for all of Marion County (2026): $541,287 for a one-unit home and $1,041,125 for a four-unit home.
How much property tax do owners pay in Pella?
The typical homeowner in Pella pays $3,678 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 1.26% of the home’s value; in Marion County, the rate is 1.22%.
Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Pella?
We found no HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Marion County; the nearest ones are on this page. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.
