Cost of Living in Decatur 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 Decatur County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Decatur County ranks #678 of 3,142 counties for affordability (top 22%)
Sourced county brief
Decatur County rent as share of income under 20 percent
Decatur County's official ACS B25071 median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) is 19.7%, which is 5.7 percentage points below the state unweighted county mean official GRAPI of 25.4%. The median gross rent in the county was estimated at $611 per month, falling below the Iowa unweighted county mean of $832. The median home value is $113,900, compared to the state unweighted county mean of $171,037. For owner-occupied housing units, the median monthly owner cost is $815, which is below the state unweighted county mean of $950. Renter-household median income was estimated at $39,679. These snapshot data points are provided by the U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates for 2020-2024. 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: Decatur County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 19.7% of renter household income in Decatur 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 $611 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $815. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $24,440 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. Decatur County's $611 median is 26.6% below that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Decatur County
Rent Burden
12.4%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,378
per month
Owner Cost Burden
16.6%
of gross income
You can likely afford the median home in Decatur County
Median home value is $113,900. Estimated monthly cost: $909 vs. your max of $1,378.
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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