Cost of Living in Johnson 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 Johnson County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Johnson County ranks #2,670 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 15%)
Sourced county brief
Johnson County Median Home Value Estimated at $308,600
The median home value in Johnson County is $308,600, which is $137,563 higher than the state unweighted county mean of $171,037. Median gross rent is $1,122 per month, which is $290 above the state unweighted county mean of $832. The official rentToIncomePct is 33.1% according to official ACS B25071 GRAPI data, representing a difference of 7.7 percentage points compared to the Iowa unweighted county mean of 25.4%. Median monthly owner costs are $1,473, while the state unweighted county mean is $950. Renter households in the county have a median income of $39,683. The overall median household income is $74,935. See ACS table B25077 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: Johnson County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 33.1% of renter household income in Johnson 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 $1,122 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $1,473. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $44,880 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. Johnson County's $1,122 median is 34.8% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Johnson County
Rent Burden
18.0%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,748
per month
Owner Cost Burden
23.6%
of gross income
The median home in Johnson County may be a stretch
Median home value is $308,600. Estimated monthly cost: $2,464 vs. your max of $1,748.
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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