Cost of Living in Fayette 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 Fayette County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Fayette County ranks #1,662 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 47%)
Sourced county brief
Fayette County Renters Allot 27.2 Percent of Income to Gross Rent
In Fayette County, the median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) is 27.2%. This official ACS B25071 estimate is 1.8 percentage points above the unweighted county mean of 25.4% for the state of Iowa. Housing costs for other tenures include a median monthly owner cost of $864, which is below the state unweighted county mean of $950. The median home value was estimated at $136,800, compared to the state unweighted county mean of $171,037. For renter households, the median income is $36,042, while the median gross rent is $881 per month. The latter figure is $49 above the unweighted county mean of $832 for Iowa. These figures are based on the ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates. Data version: acs5-2020-2024. Methodology version: cost-brief-v1. Last reviewed at: 2026-07-10. 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: Fayette County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 27.2% of renter household income in Fayette 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 $881 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $864. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $35,240 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. Fayette County's $881 median is 5.8% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Fayette County
Rent Burden
17.6%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,404
per month
Owner Cost Burden
17.2%
of gross income
You can likely afford the median home in Fayette County
Median home value is $136,800. Estimated monthly cost: $1,092 vs. your max of $1,404.
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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