Cost of Living in Jefferson 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 Jefferson County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Jefferson County ranks #1,793 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 43%)
Sourced county brief
Jefferson County Official GRAPI Reaches 30.7 Percent
In Jefferson County, the official rentBurdenGrapiPct is 30.7% as recorded in ACS table B25071. This is 5.3 percentage points higher than the state unweighted county mean of 25.4%. Median gross rent is $883, which is $51 above the state unweighted county mean of $832. Renter households in the county have a median income of $33,671. Among owner-occupied units, the median home value is $163,400, which is below the state unweighted county mean of $171,037. The median monthly owner cost is $916, also below the Iowa unweighted county mean of $950. The median income for all households regardless of tenure is $61,620. 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: Jefferson County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 30.7% of renter household income in Jefferson County, which is between the 30% and 50% rent-burden benchmarks. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $883 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $916. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $35,320 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. Jefferson County's $883 median is 6.1% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Jefferson County
Rent Burden
17.2%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,438
per month
Owner Cost Burden
17.8%
of gross income
You can likely afford the median home in Jefferson County
Median home value is $163,400. Estimated monthly cost: $1,304 vs. your max of $1,438.
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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