Cost of Living in Washington 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 Washington County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Washington County ranks #2,023 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 36%)
Sourced county brief
Washington County Renter Median Income at $45,303
The median renter-household income in Washington County was $45,303, while the median gross rent was $879 per month. This monthly rent is above the Iowa unweighted county mean of $832. The official ACS B25071 gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) was 24.0%, which is 1.4 percentage points below the Iowa unweighted county mean official GRAPI of 25.4%. Among homeowners, median selected monthly owner costs were $1,109, which is higher than the state unweighted county mean of $950. The median home value was estimated at $203,900, compared to the unweighted state county mean of $171,037. These metrics provide a snapshot of housing-tenure groups based on 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. 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: Washington County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 24.0% of renter household income in Washington 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 $879 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $1,109. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $35,160 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. Washington County's $879 median is 5.6% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Washington County
Rent Burden
13.9%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,765
per month
Owner Cost Burden
17.6%
of gross income
You can likely afford the median home in Washington County
Median home value is $203,900. Estimated monthly cost: $1,628 vs. your max of $1,765.
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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