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City · 5,143 residents · Polk County, Iowa

Windsor Heights , Iowa

In Windsor Heights, a typical home is worth $267,900 and typical rent is $1,498 a month. Compared with all of Polk County, typical rent is 30% higher, typical household income is 10% higher, and the share of households that own their home is 11 points higher.

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  • Typical home value

    $267,900

    2% above the county

    29% above Iowa

    • Windsor Heights
    • Polk
    • Iowa

  • Typical rent

    $1,498a month

    30% above the county

    54% above Iowa

    • Windsor Heights
    • Polk
    • Iowa

  • Typical household income

    $91,707a year

    10% above the county

    22% above Iowa

    • Windsor Heights
    • Polk
    • Iowa

  • Households that own their home

    79%

    11 points above the county

    7 points above Iowa

    • Windsor Heights
    • Polk
    • Iowa

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$284,942
1.4% more than 12 months ago

From Zillow (ZHVI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Windsor Heights is in Polk 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 Polk County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Windsor Heights apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. Windsor Heights has the 2nd highest typical rent of the 85 cities in Iowa with more than 5,000 people ($1,498).

  2. Windsor Heights has the 2nd largest share of rent-burdened renters of the 81 cities in Iowa with more than 5,000 people (62%).

  3. Nearby, in Clive, the typical rent is $1,073: 28% less than in Windsor Heights ($1,498).

  4. Nearby, in Des Moines, the typical home value is $194,700: 27% less than in Windsor Heights ($267,900).

  5. 79% of households in Windsor Heights own their home, against 67% in Polk County.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).

The homes here

Housing in Windsor Heights

What homes there are in Windsor Heights, 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

In Windsor Heights, 8 in 10 homes are single-family detached houses; in Polk County, 6.

Year built

In Windsor Heights, half of the homes were built before 1960; in Polk County, before 1982.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes
Monthly rent with utilities

With a mortgage

$1,739 a month

Polk County: $1,741 a month

Without a mortgage

$767 a month

Polk County: $714 a month

Owners with a mortgage

68%

Polk County: 70%

In Windsor Heights, 68% of owners have a mortgage; their typical cost is $1,739 a month, about the same as in Polk County.

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

The typical home value in Windsor Heights rose 44% since 2015–2019, about the same as in Polk County (46%).

The typical rent in Windsor Heights rose 47% over the same time; in Polk County, it rose 26%.

While home values in Windsor Heights changed +44% and rent +47%, the typical household income rose 43%.

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureWindsor HeightsPolk CountyIowaUnited States
Rental vacancy Unreliable estimate5.5%5.7%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimate0.5%0.8%0.9%
More than one person per room Unreliable estimate2.4%1.6%3.4%
People per household 2.302.412.362.53
Drive alone 73%72%76%69%
Carpool Unreliable estimate8%8%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimate1%1%3%
Walk or bike Unreliable estimate2%3%3%
Work from home 22%16%11%15%
Other means Unreliable estimate1%1%2%
Typical commute 10 to 19 minutes10 to 19 minutes10 to 19 minutes20 to 29 minutes

By size, households in Windsor Heights look like those in Polk County: 2.30 people on average.

Working from home is more common in Windsor Heights: 22%, against 16% in Polk County.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month for a home in Windsor Heights?

A typical home is tight for the typical income

We start with a typical home in Windsor Heights, worth $267,900, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 31% of the typical household income in Windsor Heights, which is $91,707 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $103,168 a year.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Polk County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Windsor Heights. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $9,377 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$2,407

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$263,047
Total interest
$378,463
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $4,524 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $2,140 a month

  • Tight

    $2,140 to $2,751 a month

    Your payment · 31%

  • Hard

    more than $2,751 a month

Compared with the typical household income in Windsor Heights ($91,707 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$2,407
Principal & interest$1,782
Property tax$395
Home insurance$112
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$118

You need at least $9,377 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

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.

The city and its county

Windsor Heights and Polk County

Windsor Heights is in Polk 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).

Windsor Heights's own numbers

Typical home value
$267,900
Typical monthly rent
$1,498
Typical yearly household income
$91,707
Households that own their home
79%
Effective property tax rate
1.77%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of Polk County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,360
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+40%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
1%

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 Polk County.

Everything about Polk County

Buying

Buying a home in Windsor Heights

A typical home in Windsor Heights is worth $267,900: 2% above the county and 29% above Iowa. With the typical household income in Windsor Heights ($91,707 a year), a typical home costs 2.9 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.

  • Windsor Heights 2.9 years
  • Polk 3.1 years
  • Iowa 2.8 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Polk County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Polk County rose 70% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Polk County.

Period County Iowa U.S.
Last year (2025) +1.7% +3.2% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +40% +41% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +70% +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

Windsor Heights next to Polk 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
  • Windsor Heights $267,900
  • Polk $262,100
  • Iowa $208,000
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Windsor Heights $1,498
  • Polk $1,149
  • Iowa $972
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Windsor Heights $91,707
  • Polk $83,576
  • Iowa $75,059
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Windsor Heights next to Polk County and Iowa
Measure Windsor Heights Polk County Iowa U.S.
Typical home value $267,900 $262,100 $208,000 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $1,498 $1,149 $972 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $91,707 $83,576 $75,059 $80,734
Households that own their home 79% 67% 72% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $4,732 $4,396 $2,897 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 1.77% 1.68% 1.39% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 62% 46% 44% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Polk 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 Windsor Heights

For a typical $267,900 home in Windsor Heights, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Windsor Heights's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $2,407a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $9,377
    Cash to close
    $17,414
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $118

  • Conventional, 5% down $2,358a month

    Down payment
    $13,395
    Cash to close
    $21,432
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $127

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $1,959a month

    Down payment
    $53,580
    Cash to close
    $61,617
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $2,206a month

    Down payment
    $40,185
    Cash to close
    $48,222
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

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.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for Windsor Heights and for Polk County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Windsor Heights

1.77%of the home’s value each year

$4,732 a year for the typical owner in Windsor Heights.

  • Windsor Heights 1.77%
  • Polk 1.68%
  • Iowa 1.39%

What Iowa publishes Homestead exemption: 10% of taxable value (Iowa Department of Revenue)

Exemptions and deadlines in Iowa

Flood risk in Polk County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of Polk County.

Homes in the high-risk zone
1%
1,607
Of those, with NFIP insurance
23%
County Iowa U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 1% 2.2% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 23% 14% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Windsor Heights

Typical rent in Windsor Heights is $1,498 a month: 30% above the county. In Windsor Heights, 62% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Polk County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,360 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $26.15 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Polk County

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Yearly income
Studio $1,102 $21.19 $44,080
1 bedroom $1,145 $22.02 $45,800
2 bedrooms $1,360 $26.15 $54,400
3 bedrooms $1,856 $35.69 $74,240
4 bedrooms $1,901 $36.56 $76,040

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 Windsor Heights

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Windsor Heights is in ZIP code 50324.

For 2 bedrooms it is $1,610: $250 more than the fair market rent for Polk County ($1,360).

  • 50324 $1,610$2,200

A ZIP code counts for Windsor Heights 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 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Windsor Heights

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.

There are 2 HUD-approved agencies with an office in Polk County; 1 says it serves in Spanish.

A man leans over the armchair where a girl is reading a book.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Windsor Heights

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Windsor Heights or Polk County. The ones below are statewide in Iowa: they work in Windsor Heights the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in Iowa

Housing counselors near Windsor Heights

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Windsor Heights, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • Home Opportunities Made Easy, Inc. (home, Inc.)

    1618 6th Ave, Des Moines · 4 miles away · Spanish

    • Home improvement and repairs
    • Homelessness services
    • and 5 more
    (515) 243-1277

  • Greater Des Moines Habitat for Humanity

    95 University Ave, Des Moines · 5 miles away

    • Pre-purchase counseling
    (515) 471-8686

  • Family Management Financial Solutions, Inc.

    2310 Falls Ave Ste 4, Waterloo · 92 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 3 more
    (319) 234-6695

Every agency in Polk County All counseling agencies in Iowa

Help in Spanish near Windsor Heights

1 of the 3 agencies on this list says it serves in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Housing authorities of Windsor Heights

In HUD’s record, no housing authority with an office in Polk County is named for Windsor Heights or Polk County.

2 other authorities have an office in Polk County: see the list Source: HUD

Cities

Other cities in Polk County

These cities are also in Polk County. They share its loan limits and fair market rents, but home values and rent change from one to the next.

Everything about Polk County Housing in Iowa

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Windsor Heights, with the typical home value.

Neighboring counties

If Polk County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in Windsor Heights.

All guides
A father holds his baby and his young son by a white picket fence.

Questions

Housing questions about Windsor Heights

Short answers with the numbers for Windsor Heights and all of Polk 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 Windsor Heights?

The typical home value in Windsor Heights is $267,900, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Polk County it is $262,100.

How much does it cost to rent in Windsor Heights?

Typical rent in Windsor Heights is $1,498 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Polk County is $1,360.

What is the FHA loan limit in Windsor Heights?

Windsor Heights uses the FHA limit for all of Polk 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 Windsor Heights?

The typical homeowner in Windsor Heights pays $4,732 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 1.77% of the home’s value; in Polk County, the rate is 1.68%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Windsor Heights?

There are 2 HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Polk County. 1 says it serves in Spanish. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).