Photo: Gcardinal101 · CC BY 4.092 homes sold in Charles City in the last year, at a typical $125K
Almost every sale is a house. Below: what each kind of home sells for, the best months to buy, how hard you’ll have to bid, and a shortcut to every site where Charles City homes are listed.
Every place Charles City homes are listed, in one stop
We don’t copy listings: the agents’ sites have the photos and the latest price changes. Set what you want once and we open each site already filtered to Charles City.
For sale
Rent
New, land & open houses
Links open the listing sites; TownRatings isn’t paid for them and doesn’t rank one above another. Rentals and government-owned homes come from sources outside the MLS.
Houses are 0% of Charles City’s sales, at a typical — (year to May 2026)
92 homes sold in the year to September 2026.
About as many homes sell as usual, at 1.6 times the 2016 price
92 sales in the last year, against 119 in 2017 and a low of 47 in 2015. The typical sale went from $76K in 2016 to $125K.
Source: Redfin Data Center, MLS sales; from June 2026 each month is a 3-month rolling window, its counts divided by 3. Typical price and $/sq ft are the monthly medians, weighted by sales. Redfin stopped publishing towns’ figures by property type after May 2026, so houses and condos are shown for the year to then.
Bidding wars in Charles City are more common than before the pandemic, but 39% fewer homes come up for sale
We read every month of Charles City’s home sales since 2015 so you don’t have to. Each figure covers 12 months, because a single month in a town is too few sales to mean much. Latest: the year to September 2026, 92 sales.
If you’re buying in Charles City
- Shop in May. It brings about 10 new listings a month, close to the busiest month, with fewer bidding wars (11% over asking).
- Bid near asking. Buyers paid 98% of the list price on average; 17% paid over.
- Move fast on good ones. Half of homes are under contract within two weeks.
Summer brings the homes; fall brings the bidding wars
August has the most new listings (about 11 a month), but November is the most competitive: 18% of November sales close over asking. May and June offer nearly as much choice with fewer homes bid up (11%). March has the least competition (9%).
Averages for each calendar month, 2015 on.
Nearly as heated as 2021, and about like Iowa as a whole
| Charles City now | 2017–19 | 2021 peak | IA now | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sold over askingShare of sales that closed above the list price | 17% | 9% | 22% | 20% |
| Gone within two weeksShare of homes under contract within 14 days | 49% | 0% | 3% | 35% |
| Price paid vs. askingAverage sale price ÷ list price | 98% | 94.7% | 97.3% | 97.5% |
| Days to sellMedian days from listing to contract | 24 | 100 | 67 | 46 |
25 homes for sale on a typical day
That’s 1.4 times the 2025 low (18), 39% fewer than in 2017–19 and well under 2018’s 42.
Charles City ranks 52nd of 91 busy Iowa markets for bidding wars
Share of sales over asking in the last year, among towns with 60 or more sales. Charles City is in the middle of the pack.
Source: Redfin Data Center, city figures, January 2015 to September 2026 (MLS sales, not seasonally adjusted; from June 2026 each month is a 3-month rolling window, its counts divided by 3). Ratios are weighted by homes sold; price cuts by homes for sale.
Owning the typical Charles City home costs about $811 a month
Price: Charles City’s typical sale, last 12 months. Property tax at Charles City’s 1.5% (median bill ÷ median value, Census ACS); insurance at 0.35% of price a year. Before PMI, HOA dues, upkeep and the tax deduction. Whether Charles City is affordable on local pay is on Cost of living.
Six things worth knowing
New listings in August
The month with the most choice. February has the fewest, about 5.
Best time to buyProperty tax, a year
Of a home’s value: the median bill over the median home value. On a $125K home, about $1,900 a year.
Taxes vs. neighborsSchools
The schools grade for Charles City, from test results, graduation and how much students grow.
Schools in Charles CityTypical commute
The average one-way trip to work for people who live in Charles City.
Work & commuteCheck the flood map
Flood insurance isn’t in a standard policy, and lenders require it in FEMA flood zones. Check the address before you make an offer.
Natural hazardsLook up any property
Assessed value, lot size and every past sale of a home you’re eyeing are public, at the town or county assessor and the registry of deeds.
Nashua sells for less a square foot; Osage and New Hampton for far more
The busier markets within 25 miles of Charles City, by what sold. Prices, taxes and how far a paycheck goes next door are on Cost of living.
| Sold | Typical sale | $/sq ft | Over asking | Days to sell | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charles City | 92 | $125K | $85 | 17% | 24 |
| Osage | 68 | $174K | $109 | 11% | 56 |
| New Hampton | 40 | $166K | $116 | 18% | 27 |
| Nashua | 30 | $104K | $82 | 10% | 57 |
Redfin Data Center, October 2025 to September 2026. Towns with fewer than 20 sales are left out, and Redfin doesn’t report every town separately.
Post your home to Charles City, free
Selling it yourself, renting out an apartment or looking for a roommate? Post it to Charles City. People who follow the town see it, and so do people comparing Charles City with their own town. No commission, no listing fee.
Questions about buying a home in Charles City
What do homes sell for in Charles City, IA?
92 homes sold in the year to September 2026 at a typical $125K, $85 a square foot.
Is Charles City a buyer’s or seller’s market?
A seller’s market: 28 homes were for sale in September 2026 and 7 sold, about 3.6 months of supply. Buyers paid 98% of asking on average.
When is the best time to buy in Charles City?
August brings the most new listings. The sales history shows which months have fewer bidding wars.
How much are property taxes in Charles City?
About 1.5% of a home’s value a year. On a $125K home that’s near $1,900.
Where can I see homes for sale in Charles City?
Zillow, Redfin, Realtor.com and Homes.com all carry Charles City’s MLS listings; the search links above open each one filtered to Charles City.
Sales, prices, days on market and listings: Redfin Data Center (MLS, monthly, not seasonally adjusted; from June 2026 each month is a 3-month rolling window, its counts divided by 3). Property tax rate: Census American Community Survey. Two-bedroom rent: HUD Fair Market Rent. Typical home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Schools grade: TownRatings (how grades work).