Cost of Living in Lee 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 Lee County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Lee County ranks #1,471 of 3,142 counties for affordability (top 47%)
Sourced county brief
Lee County Renter Median Income Recorded at $30,916
The median renter-household income in Lee County is $30,916. The official rentToIncomePct is 29.6% as reported in official ACS B25071 GRAPI data, which is 4.2 percentage points higher than the state unweighted county mean of 25.4%. Median gross rent in the county is $835, which is $3 above the Iowa unweighted county mean of $832. For homeowners, the median home value is $141,400, which is $29,637 below the state unweighted mean of $171,037. The median monthly owner cost is $852, below the state mean of $950. The median income for all households in the county is $62,382. See ACS table B25119 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: Lee County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 29.6% of renter household income in Lee 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 $835 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $852. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $33,400 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. Lee County's $835 median is 0.3% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Lee County
Rent Burden
16.1%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,456
per month
Owner Cost Burden
16.4%
of gross income
You can likely afford the median home in Lee County
Median home value is $141,400. Estimated monthly cost: $1,129 vs. your max of $1,456.
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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