Cost of Living in Boone County, Iowa
At a Glance
Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)
These figures are county medians, not a personal budget. Use them to frame rent, ownership, and income tradeoffs, then account for household size, commute, financing, insurance, taxes, debt, and local availability before making a decision.
How Boone County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Boone County ranks #1,998 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 36%)
Sourced county brief
Boone County Median Selected Monthly Owner Costs Reach $1,208
In Boone County, the median selected monthly owner cost for all owner-occupied housing units was $1,208. This value is $258 above the Iowa unweighted county mean of $950. The median home value in the county was reported at $212,400, while the state unweighted county mean was $171,037. For those renting, the median gross rent was $845 per month, which is higher than the state unweighted county mean of $832. The official ACS B25071 gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) was 25.7%, representing a 0.3 percentage point difference from the state unweighted county mean of 25.4%. Median renter-household income was estimated at $44,693 for the period. These figures offer a factual summary of the county's housing cost metrics based on 2020-2024 five-year census estimates. See ACS table B25088 for the underlying estimate.
Source record
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25064 Median Gross Rent
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25071 GRAPI
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25077 Median Home Value
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25088 Selected Monthly Owner Costs
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25119 Household Income by Tenure
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-brief-v1
Cost of Living Advisory: Boone County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 25.7% of renter household income in Boone County, which is below the 30% affordability benchmark. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $845 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $1,208. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $33,800 in annual gross income would allocate 30% to the county's median gross rent. This is a reproducible illustration, not evidence that a particular household can afford housing.
Regional Context
The Iowa unweighted mean of county median rents is $832 per month. Boone County's $845 median is 1.5% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Boone County
Rent Burden
12.1%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,949
per month
Owner Cost Burden
17.4%
of gross income
You can likely afford the median home in Boone County
Median home value is $212,400. Estimated monthly cost: $1,696 vs. your max of $1,949.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
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Based on the 30% rule for rent and 28% rule for housing costs (mortgage + owner costs). Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 7.2% interest, 30-year fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
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See Today's RatesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.
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