Cost of Living in Cedar 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 Cedar County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Cedar County ranks #2,073 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 34%)
Sourced county brief
Cedar County Monthly Owner Costs Exceed State Mean
In Cedar County, Iowa, the median selected monthly owner cost for all owner-occupied units is $1,146. This amount is $196 above the Iowa unweighted county mean of $950. The median home value in the county was estimated at $211,300, which is higher than the state unweighted county mean of $171,037. Among renters, the median gross rent is $879 per month, compared to the state unweighted county mean of $832. The official median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) is 29.8% in Cedar County. This canonical affordability metric is 4.4 percentage points higher than the state unweighted county mean of 25.4%. Renter households in the county have a median income of $41,487. These estimates provide a snapshot of housing costs for both owners and renters from the 2020-2024 period. 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: Cedar County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 29.8% of renter household income in Cedar 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 $879 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $1,146. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $35,160 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. Cedar County's $879 median is 5.6% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Cedar County
Rent Burden
13.1%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,881
per month
Owner Cost Burden
17.1%
of gross income
You can likely afford the median home in Cedar County
Median home value is $211,300. Estimated monthly cost: $1,687 vs. your max of $1,881.
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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