Rent vs buy in Dubuque, IA
In Dubuque, Iowa, typical rent is $1,073 /mo and a typical home is $247,824.
Renting saves $49k over 7 years
Based on Dubuque's typical figures for rent and home value, this uses 20% down and today's mortgage rate. There is no break-even within 30 years.
A clearly labelled opinion with the math shown. These figures are estimates rather than quotes. Change any number and the stamp will change.
- Renting leads by
- $49k after 7 years
- Break-even point
- 30 years or more owning never catches up sooner
- Actual cost of ownership
- $2,272 /mo year 1, against $1,073 rent
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The stamp draws on Dubuque's typical rent and home value figures. Depending on your rent, price and years, the result can flip.
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Is renting or buying cheaper in Dubuque?
Over 7 years, renting costs $49,090 less after counting the money returned when you sell. In every year shown, renting has a lower net cost than owning, and owning never catches up within 30 years.
Renting. Cost of owning. Net cost through each year so far.
Average rent compared with the mortgage payment in Dubuque
At the typical price for Dubuque's market, these are all monthly costs for year 1. Rent and mortgage aren't the whole story.
| Each month, year 1 | Amount | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Rent | $1,073 | All of it, every month |
| Mortgage payment | $1,351 | $1,191 of it is interest in year 1 |
| Property tax | $271 | 1.31% of the value a year |
| Insurance | $98 | Census median for the city |
| Upkeep | $207 | 1% of the value a year |
| Owning, cash out | $1,926 | $160 of it builds equity |
| Lost return on the down payment | $403 | What the cash would earn over a year at 8.3% |
| Buying costs, spread out | $103 | 3.5% of the price over 7 years |
| True cost of owning | $2,272 | Cash paid out, minus the equity portion, plus the two amounts above |
The figures behind Dubuque's result
- Typical home valueZillow ZHVI, September 2026
- $247,824
- Typical rentZillow ZORI, September 2026
- $1,073 /mo
- Down payment20% avoids private mortgage insurance, which the engine does not model
- 20%
- Mortgage rateFreddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (FRED MORTGAGE30US)
- 7.24%
- Home price growthFHFA house price index, Iowa, 1995 to 2025
- 3.7% a year
- Rent growthCPI rent of primary residence, yearly growth 2006 to 2026
- 3.5% a year
- Return on savings60% S&P 500 with dividends and 40% 10-year Treasuries, rebalanced yearly, 1928 to 2025
- 8.3% a year
- Property taxCensus ACS 2020-2024, Dubuque
- 1.31% of value
- Home insuranceCensus ACS 2020-2024, Dubuque
- $98 /mo
- MaintenanceFannie Mae, low end of 1% to 4%
- 1% of value a year
- Buying costsFreddie Mac, middle of 2% to 5%
- 3.5% of price
- Selling costsAgent commission plus closing costs
- 6% of price
What change would flip the result in Dubuque?
Each line marks the point at which Dubuque's 7-year verdict changes, with every other factor unchanged.
Renting is cheaper when
- Home prices grow at less than 6.1% yearly; we use Iowa's long-run rate of 3.7%.
- The mortgage rate remains above 3.68%.
- The monthly rent for a home like this is less than $1,600 (the typical amount here is $1,073).
- Moving at any point over the next 30 years means owning never catches up under these numbers.
Buying is cheaper when
- Home prices increase by more than 6.1% a year.
- The mortgage rate you lock in is under 3.68% (today's is 7.24%).
- The same home would have a rent of more than $1,600 a month.
Dubuque compared with the other 812 cities
| Measure | Dubuque | Median city |
|---|---|---|
| Typical home value | $247,824 | $422,451 |
| Typical rent | $1,073 /mo | $1,837 /mo |
| Price-to-rent ratio | 19.2 (#372 of 813) | 18.5 |
| Home prices, last 10 years | 5.3% a year | 6.2% a year |
| Property tax | 1.31% | 0.87% |
| Households that rent | 34% | 42% |
Sources: Zillow ZHVI and ZORI, Census ACS 2020-2024.
Other Iowa cities
- Rent. In Des Moines, IA, renting wins by $29k.
- With a $19k advantage, renting wins in Cedar Rapids, IA.
- Rent. In Davenport, IA, renting wins by $34k.
- With an $8k advantage, renting wins in Sioux City, IA.
- Rent. In Ankeny, IA, renting wins by $74k.
- With a $29k advantage, renting wins in Iowa City, IA.
- Rent. Renting in West Des Moines, IA wins by $71k.
- With a $67k advantage, renting wins in Ames, IA.
- Rent. In Waterloo, IA, renting wins by $9k.
- Rent. Renting wins by $23k in Council Bluffs, IA.