Cost of Living in Woodbury 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 Woodbury County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Woodbury County ranks #2,178 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 31%)
Sourced county brief
Woodbury County Median Gross Rent Reaches $981 Monthly
According to the U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates, the median gross rent in Woodbury County was $981 per month. This figure is $149 above the unweighted county mean of $832 for the state of Iowa. The official Gross Rent as a Percentage of Household Income (GRAPI), found in ACS table B25071, was estimated at 26.3%. This canonical affordability measure is 0.9 percentage points higher than the Iowa unweighted county mean of 25.4%. Owner-occupied housing units in the county had median selected monthly owner costs of $1,029, which is above the state unweighted county mean of $950. The median home value in Woodbury County was estimated at $183,200, exceeding the state unweighted county mean of $171,037. Renter households reported a median income of $44,770. These data points provide a snapshot of housing costs relative to local income levels across different tenure groups. 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: Woodbury County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 26.3% of renter household income in Woodbury 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 $981 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $1,029. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $39,240 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. Woodbury County's $981 median is 17.8% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Woodbury County
Rent Burden
16.0%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,719
per month
Owner Cost Burden
16.8%
of gross income
You can likely afford the median home in Woodbury County
Median home value is $183,200. Estimated monthly cost: $1,463 vs. your max of $1,719.
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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