Cost of Living in Le Mars, IA
Cost of Living in Le Mars, IA has an overall index of 81, 19% below the U.S. baseline of 100. The typical home value is $202,200; typical monthly rent is $908; and median household income is $72,381.
Cost index: committed city housing/rent inputs and BEA 2024 state nonmetro price parities. Home value: Census ACS 2023 fallback place estimate. Rent: Census ACS 2023 fallback place estimate. A place-level signal, not a personal affordability decision or financial recommendation.
Rent and home prices are comparatively balanced with local income. This describes the local market, not your household.
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Frequently asked questions about Le Mars
Living in Le Mars
Is Le Mars, IA an affordable place to live?+
Yes — everyday expenses in Le Mars run about 19% below the US average (Cost Index: 81). Housing is especially affordable: the median home is valued around $202,200, compared to the $303,400 national median. Monthly rent is $908, versus $1,348 nationally.
How does Le Mars fit a household housing budget?+
Start with housing. Typical monthly rent is $908, while local median household income is $72,381. That implies a rent-burden proxy of about 15% before utilities and other costs. Use that as a planning signal for whether the place looks manageable under your own household assumptions.
How much are taxes in Le Mars, IA?+
Iowa uses an approximate state-income-tax planning model; 5.7% is top marginal-rate context from the tax snapshot. Applying the 1.57% state-level effective owner-occupied proxy to a home worth $202,200 gives a planning estimate near $3,175 per year; it is not a city, county, parcel, or individual tax bill. State plus average local sales-tax context is around 6.94%.
How much does it cost to rent in Le Mars, IA?+
The typical monthly rent in Le Mars is around $908. That's roughly 33% lower than the $1,348 national median. For comparison, the median home value here is $202,200, so buyers should also factor in mortgage payments, property taxes, and insurance.
How much does a house cost in Le Mars, IA?+
The typical home value in Le Mars is $202,200. With 20% down and the committed 6.11% national 30-year fixed benchmark as of 2026-03-12, principal and interest are roughly $981/month before property tax and insurance. This is a planning estimate, not a local lender quote. About 62% of residents here own their homes.
Are groceries and utilities expensive in Le Mars?+
Grocery prices in Le Mars are about average compared to the rest of the US (index: 96, where 100 is the national average). Utility bills (electricity, gas, water) are below average (index: 88). Overall, these everyday costs shouldn't cause major surprises if you're moving from another similarly-sized US city.
What is Le Mars, IA like to live in?+
Le Mars is a small town with a population of about 10,597. The median age of residents is 39.1, which is close to the national median. The local poverty rate is 8.85%, near the national average of 12.4%.