Cost of Living in Buena Vista 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 Buena Vista County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Buena Vista County ranks #1,815 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 42%)
Sourced county brief
Buena Vista County Rent to Income Percentage Below State Mean
In Buena Vista County, Iowa, the official median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) is 21.3%. This canonical value from ACS table B25071 is 4.1 percentage points lower than the Iowa unweighted county mean of 25.4%. The median gross rent for the county was estimated at $894 per month, while the state unweighted county mean is $832. For renter households, the median income is $52,017. Among owner-occupied housing units, the median selected monthly owner cost is $908, which is below the state unweighted county mean of $950. The median home value in the county is $159,500, a figure lower than the state unweighted county mean of $171,037. These data points provide a housing cost snapshot for the 2020-2024 period without predicting future market changes. See ACS table B25071 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: Buena Vista County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 21.3% of renter household income in Buena Vista 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 $894 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $908. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $35,760 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. Buena Vista County's $894 median is 7.4% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Buena Vista County
Rent Burden
15.0%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,673
per month
Owner Cost Burden
15.2%
of gross income
You can likely afford the median home in Buena Vista County
Median home value is $159,500. Estimated monthly cost: $1,273 vs. your max of $1,673.
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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