Cost of Living in Lucas 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 Lucas County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Lucas County ranks #1,033 of 3,142 counties for affordability (top 33%)
Sourced county brief
Lucas County Median Gross Rent Estimated at $709 Monthly
Lucas County’s median gross rent was estimated at $709 per month, which is $123 below the state unweighted county mean of $832. Renter households in the county had a median income of $31,425. The official rentBurdenGrapiPct, which measures the median gross rent as a percentage of household income among renter-occupied units, was 25.3%. This is 0.1 percentage points below the state unweighted county mean of 25.4%. For owner-occupied units, the median selected monthly owner cost was $888, compared to the state unweighted county mean of $950. The median home value in Lucas County was recorded at $120,200, sitting $50,837 below the state unweighted county mean of $171,037. The canonical rentToIncomePct of 25.3% is provided as the official ACS B25071 GRAPI estimate. 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: Lucas County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 25.3% of renter household income in Lucas 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 $709 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $888. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $28,360 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. Lucas County's $709 median is 14.8% below that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Lucas County
Rent Burden
13.8%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,442
per month
Owner Cost Burden
17.2%
of gross income
You can likely afford the median home in Lucas County
Median home value is $120,200. Estimated monthly cost: $960 vs. your max of $1,442.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
See how much you need to earn to comfortably afford housing
$0/yr
Needed to stay within recommended threshold
$0/yr
Needed to stay within recommended threshold
$0/yr
Needed to stay within recommended threshold
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
What is the cost of living in Lucas County, Iowa?
What is the median rent in Lucas County?
Is Lucas County affordable?
How does Lucas County's rent compare to the state average?
What is the median home value in Lucas County?
Counties with Similar Housing Costs
Planning a Move?
Researching the cost of living in Lucas County, Iowa? Compare moving quotes from top providers and save on your relocation.
Compare Moving QuotesCompare Mortgage Rates in Lucas County
Whether you're buying in Lucas County, Iowa, or refinancing, compare rates from top lenders using the terms each lender provides.
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.
CostByCounty participates in affiliate programs. We may earn a commission when you use our links, at no extra cost to you.