Cost of Living in Madison 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 Madison County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Madison County ranks #2,498 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 20%)
Sourced county brief
Madison County Median Owner Costs Exceed State Unweighted Mean
Madison County’s median selected monthly owner costs for all owner-occupied units was $1,323, which is $373 above the state unweighted county mean of $950. The median gross rent in the county was estimated at $1,036, which is $204 higher than the state unweighted county mean of $832. For renter households, the median income was $44,255. The official rentBurdenGrapiPct, representing the median gross rent as a percentage of household income among renter-occupied units, was 25.8%. This is 0.4 percentage points above the state unweighted county mean of 25.4%. The median home value was recorded at $245,100, or $74,063 above the state unweighted county mean of $171,037. The canonical rentToIncomePct of 25.8% is 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: Madison County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 25.8% of renter household income in Madison 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 $1,036 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $1,323. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $41,440 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. Madison County's $1,036 median is 24.5% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Madison County
Rent Burden
13.7%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$2,120
per month
Owner Cost Burden
17.5%
of gross income
You can likely afford the median home in Madison County
Median home value is $245,100. Estimated monthly cost: $1,957 vs. your max of $2,120.
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
What is the cost of living in Madison County, Iowa?
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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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