Cost of Living in Linn 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 Linn County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Linn County ranks #2,331 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 26%)
Sourced county brief
Linn County Rent Burden Above State Unweighted County Mean
Linn County’s official rentBurdenGrapiPct was estimated at 27.8%, which is 2.4 percentage points higher than the state unweighted county mean of 25.4%. This figure represents the median gross rent as a percentage of household income among renter-occupied housing units, as reported in ACS table B25071. For households residing in owner-occupied units, the median selected monthly owner cost was $1,254, which is $304 above the state unweighted county mean of $950. The median home value in the county was recorded at $214,300, a value that sits $43,263 above the state unweighted county mean of $171,037. Renters in the area had a median household income of $42,870, while the median gross rent was $945 per month. The monthly rent figure is $113 higher than the Iowa unweighted county mean of $832. The canonical rentToIncomePct of 27.8% is the official American Community Survey B25071 Gross Rent as a Percentage of Household Income (GRAPI) estimate for the 2020-2024 period. 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: Linn County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 27.8% of renter household income in Linn 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 $945 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $1,254. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $37,800 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. Linn County's $945 median is 13.5% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Linn County
Rent Burden
14.6%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,812
per month
Owner Cost Burden
19.4%
of gross income
You can likely afford the median home in Linn County
Median home value is $214,300. Estimated monthly cost: $1,711 vs. your max of $1,812.
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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