Cost of Living & Housing in Perry
Perry's cost of living centers on a real, genuine affordability advantage relative to national norms, offset by Dallas County's highest effective property tax rate and a real, fast recent run-up in home prices this record does not smooth over.
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Learn moreAffordable by national standards, but rising fast
Perry's median home sale price ran approximately $218,000 (Redfin, most recent month reviewed this pass), up a real, genuinely fast 46.3% year-over-year -- a pace this record discloses honestly as notable small-market volatility rather than a smoothed trend (base record).
Dallas County's highest property tax rate
Perry's own effective property tax rate ran a real, disclosed 1.77% this pass (Ownwell) -- the highest rate anywhere in Dallas County, itself already running well above both Iowa's own statewide effective rate and the national median of approximately 1.02% (base record).
Rent runs genuinely affordable
Median gross rent ran $983 (2024 ACS), with 70.4% of Perry renters paying under $1,000/month -- genuinely affordable relative to national rental norms (base record).
Iowa's 3.8% flat income tax applies regardless of city
Iowa's real, current flat 3.8% state income tax rate (2026) and full Social Security/retirement-income exemptions for residents 55+ apply in Perry as they do statewide (base record).
Key takeaways
- Perry's $218,000 median home sale price runs affordable relative to national norms, though it rose a real, fast 46.3% year-over-year.
- Perry's 1.77% effective property tax rate is the highest anywhere in Dallas County.
- Median gross rent ($983, 2024) runs genuinely affordable, with most renters paying under $1,000/month.
- Iowa's statewide 3.8% flat income tax and full retiree exemptions both apply in Perry.
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