Cost of Living in Mills 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 Mills County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Mills County ranks #2,358 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 25%)
Sourced county brief
Median Monthly Owner Costs in Mills County Reach $1,266
Median selected monthly owner costs for all owner-occupied units in Mills County were estimated at $1,266 per month during the 2020-2024 period. This figure is $316 above the Iowa unweighted county mean of $950. The official ACS B25071 median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) was 25.2%, which differs by 0.2 percentage points from the state unweighted county mean of 25.4%. Renter-household median income was reported at $50,761. The median gross rent in the county was $959 per month, compared to the Iowa unweighted county mean of $832. Additionally, the median home value for owner-occupied housing was $237,800, which is above the state unweighted county mean home value of $171,037. All figures are derived from the American Community Survey 5-year estimates snapshot. 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: Mills County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 25.2% of renter household income in Mills 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 $959 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $1,266. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $38,360 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. Mills County's $959 median is 15.2% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Mills County
Rent Burden
12.7%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$2,118
per month
Owner Cost Burden
16.7%
of gross income
You can likely afford the median home in Mills County
Median home value is $237,800. Estimated monthly cost: $1,898 vs. your max of $2,118.
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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