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Single Family ResidenceResidential
$562,123$220 / ft²
TopHap EstimateOur estimate of what this home would sell for today, based on nearby sales, the home's size and features, and local price trends. It is a starting point, not an appraisal.· confidence 89How well the pricing models agreed with each other on this home. Higher means the estimate rests on stronger, more consistent data.· as of Aug 30, 2026
Last sold for $308,500 on Jul 1, 2005

257 COTTONWOOD DR SW

ALTOONA, IA 50009
4
Beds
3 / 1
Baths
2,558 ft²
Living AreaTotal finished area of the structures, from county records. Some counties include shared space like hallways or a building gym, so it may not match a listing.
0.44 ac
Lot SizeThe size of the land the home sits on, from county records.
2005
Year BuiltThe year the home was originally built, according to county records.
2
StoriesHow many floors the home has above ground.
6
RoomsThe total room count in county records. Counties differ on which rooms they count, so compare it loosely.
3
ParkingThe number of parking spaces on the property, including the garage.

Valuation

$562K
$500K low$625K high
Last SaleThe most recent sale price and date from the recorded deed. Transfers between family members or companies may not reflect market value.$308,500 · Jul 1, 2005

Tax & Assessment

Property TaxThe property tax billed for this tax year. It usually pays for schools, roads, and local services.$8,332 (2024)
Assessed ValueThe value the county assigns to this home to calculate property tax. It is often lower than what the home would sell for.$510,500 (2025)
Assessed LandThe share of the county's assessed value that comes from the land itself, not the buildings.$71,900
Assessed ImprovementsThe share of the county's assessed value that comes from the buildings and other structures on the land.$438,600
Previous AssessedThe county's assessed value from the year before, useful for seeing how the assessment changed.$483,300
Assessor Market ValueThe county assessor's own opinion of market value. It is separate from our estimate and updates on the county's schedule.$510,500

Property Facts

Property TypeThe broad category the county puts this property in, such as residential or commercial.Single Family Residence
StyleThe architectural style of the home, such as ranch or colonial.Conventional
CountyPolk
Lot (acres)The size of the land the home sits on, from county records.0.44
FoundationWhat the home is built on, such as a concrete slab, a crawl space, or a basement.Concrete
RoofThe main material covering the roof, such as asphalt shingle or tile.Asphalt
HeatingThe type of heating system in the home.Forced Air
CoolingThe type of cooling or air conditioning in the home.Yes
FireplaceWhether the home has a fireplace, and what kind.Yes
GarageWhether the property has a garage, and details like whether it is attached to the home.Garage, Attached
PoolWhether the property has a pool, and what kind, such as in-ground.Yes
FeaturesExtra features found in county records. Records are not complete everywhere, so a missing feature does not always mean the home lacks it.Deck · 168 ft²Patio · 416 ft²Porch · 48 ft²

Transaction History(3)

Sales and refinances filed with the county for this home. Not every transfer is a normal sale, so check the type before comparing prices.

Assigned SchoolsThe public schools this address is zoned for. Boundaries change, so confirm with the district before you count on it.

E
Altoona ElementaryA
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · 0.7 mi
H
Southeast Polk High SchoolC-
High · Grades 9–12 · 2.9 mi
M
Southeast Polk Junior HighC+
Middle · Grades 7–8 · 3.0 mi

District: Southeast Polk Community School District

Neighborhood · ZIP 50009These are comparison scores, not percentages. 100 equals the national average, so 150 means about 50% above average.

CrimeLocal crime compared with the rest of the country, where 100 is average. It reflects things like population density, income, and how crime gets reported.57
Air pollutionOverall air pollution compared with the rest of the country, where 100 is average. Lower is cleaner.89
EarthquakeEarthquake risk and likely building damage compared with the rest of the country, where 100 is average. Scores can run far above 100.12

Index scale: 100 = US average (tick). Lower is better.

Homes occupiedThe share of homes here that someone lives in. The rest sit empty, including vacation and for-sale homes.95%
Bachelor's or higherThe share of adults 25 and older whose highest degree is a bachelor's degree.25%
Poverty rateThe share of people whose household income falls below the federal poverty line, which varies by family size.6.0%
UnemploymentThe share of men 16 and older who are out of work and actively looking. Only men are counted in this figure.1.0%
PopulationHow many people live in this area.21,191
DensityPeople per square mile. Higher numbers mean a more crowded, urban area.798 / mi²
Median incomeThe middle household income here — half of households earn more, half earn less.$88,697
Average incomeThe average household income. It runs higher than the median when a few high earners pull it up.$106,400
Average tempThe average temperature here across a full year.49°F
Annual precipHow much rain and melted snow falls here in a typical year.35 in
SunshineThe share of daylight hours that get direct sun in a typical year, counting cloud cover.59%

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Data by ATTOM. Valuations are automated estimates, not appraisals. Photos from Google Street View and may not depict the current property state.

How this home compares

257 Cottonwood Dr Sw measured against every home in its neighborhood, its ZIP code and its county, using county assessor records refreshed nightly. A home can stand out in one of those areas and look ordinary in another, because each one holds a different mix of homes.

  • Worth more than 96% of homes in Altoona 50009
  • Costs more per square foot than 67% of homes in Polk County
  • Bigger than 94% of homes in Altoona 50009
  • Has a bigger lot than 86% of homes in Altoona 50009
  • Newer than 80% of homes in Polk County

What homes are worth in Altoona 50009

Each bar is how many homes fall in that price range. The marker is this home.

This home
$157K$638K

This home is worth more than 96% of homes in Altoona 50009.

How it measures up in Altoona 50009

The dot is this home. The mark in the middle is the typical home in Altoona 50009.

Estimated value$562,123
CheaperTypical $330,827Pricier

Pricier than 96% of homes nearby

Price per ft²$220
CheaperTypical $218Pricier

Pricier than 51% of homes nearby

Living area2,558 ft²
SmallerTypical 1,495 ft²Bigger

Bigger than 94% of homes nearby

Lot size0.44 ac
SmallerTypical 0.23 acBigger

Bigger than 86% of homes nearby

Year built2005
OlderTypical 2002Newer

Newer than 64% of homes nearby

How 257 Cottonwood Dr Sw ranks against every home in each area.
MeasureThis homeAltoona 50009Polk County
Estimated valuepricier than$562,12396% of homes93% of homes
Price per ft²pricier than$22051% of homes67% of homes
Living areabigger than2,558 ft²94% of homes92% of homes
Lot sizebigger than0.44 ac86% of homes85% of homes
Year builtnewer than200564% of homes80% of homes

About 257 Cottonwood Dr Sw

How much is 257 Cottonwood Dr Sw, Altoona, IA worth?

The TopHap Estimate for 257 Cottonwood Dr Sw, Altoona, IA is $562,123 as of Aug 30, 2026. The likely range is $499,540 to $624,706. The estimate is modelled from recorded sales, assessments and the property's own characteristics — it is not an appraisal.

When did 257 Cottonwood Dr Sw, Altoona, IA last sell?

257 Cottonwood Dr Sw, Altoona, IA last sold on Jul 1, 2005 for $308,500, according to the county's recorded deed. TopHap holds 2 recorded sales for this parcel.

How big is 257 Cottonwood Dr Sw, Altoona, IA?

257 Cottonwood Dr Sw, Altoona, IA has 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, 2,558 square feet of living space and a 0.44-acre lot.

When was 257 Cottonwood Dr Sw, Altoona, IA built?

257 Cottonwood Dr Sw, Altoona, IA was built in 2005, making it 21 years old. It is a conventional home. The building has 2 stories.

What schools serve 257 Cottonwood Dr Sw, Altoona, IA?

257 Cottonwood Dr Sw, Altoona, IA is assigned to Altoona Elementary (elementary), rated A; Southeast Polk High School (high), rated C-; Southeast Polk Junior High (middle), rated C+. All sit in Southeast Polk Community School District. Attendance boundaries change — confirm with the district before relying on an assignment.

How does 257 Cottonwood Dr Sw, Altoona, IA compare to other homes in Altoona 50009?

Among the 7,603 homes in Altoona 50009, it is worth more than 96% of them ($562,123 against a typical $330,827), its price per square foot is higher than 51% of them ($220 against a typical $218), it is bigger than 94% of them (2,558 ft² against a typical 1,495 ft²), its lot is bigger than 86% of them (0.44 ac against a typical 0.23 ac) and it is newer than 64% of them (2005 against a typical 2002). Measured against all of Polk County, it is worth more than 93% of homes there. These shares are recounted nightly from the full county assessor record for each area, not from active listings.

What are the property taxes on 257 Cottonwood Dr Sw, Altoona, IA?

The 2024 property tax bill for 257 Cottonwood Dr Sw, Altoona, IA was $8,332. The county assessed it at $510,500.

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