Buchanan County, Iowa Housing Market Prices
Buchanan County Home Prices and Rent at a Glance
The median home price (often called the average home price), rent costs, affordability metrics, and housing stock characteristics for this housing market.
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Median home price 94% above the Iowa median More expensive than 92% of counties in Iowa$298,275
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Median rent 13% below the Iowa median$848
Median Home Price Map: Nearby Counties
Housing Market Overview
| Metric | Buchanan County | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Price | $298,275 | $153,425 | $248,835 |
| Price Trend (Annual %) | 76.4% | 7.5% | 7.5% |
| Median Gross Rent | $848 | $971 | $1,407 |
| Rent Trend (Annual %) | 3.7% | 3.9% | 5.1% |
| Household Income Trend (Annual %) | — | — | — |
The median home price in Buchanan County is about 94% higher than in Iowa. Rent is about 13% lower than the Iowa average.
Median Home and Rent Price Trends
Median Home Prices, 2015-2024
Median Rent Prices, 2015-2024
Both home prices and rent are rising in Buchanan County, up about 76.4% and 3.7% a year respectively. Home prices are changing faster.
Median rent in Buchanan County rose about 34.9% between 2015 and 2024, from $628 to $848. Over the same span, rent in Iowa rose about 39.6%.
Affordability
On average, housing unit costs 3.8 yearly household incomes in Buchanan County.
Buying the median-priced home in Buchanan County costs roughly 29.3 years of rent at the median monthly rate. That is a relatively high price-to-rent ratio, which tends to favor renting over buying in Buchanan County. The price-to-rent ratio in Iowa is about 13.2.
| Metric | Buchanan County | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Price | $298,275 | $153,425 | $248,835 |
| Median Household Income | $77,708 | $75,133 | $80,455 |
| Price-to-Income Ratio | 3.8 | 2.0 | 3.1 |
Home Prices vs Income Over Time
Between 2015 and 2024, the median home price in Buchanan County rose about 16.9%, while median household income rose about 50.2% between 2009 and 2025 — income grew faster than the home price.
Income Growth vs Housing Cost Growth (Year-over-Year %)
Compare income and housing cost trends.
Occupancy & Tenure
| Metric | Buchanan County | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homeownership Rate | 75.8% | 65.6% | 58.5% |
| Rental Rate | 16.5% | 25.9% | 31.2% |
| Vacancy Rate | 7.7% | 8.5% | 10.2% |
| Median Tenure (years) | 19.0 | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Median Year Moved In | 2007 | 2011 | 2011 |
Buchanan County has a homeownership rate of 75.8%, higher than the Iowa average of 65.6%. Its housing vacancy rate is 7.7%, compared with 8.5% in Iowa.
Housing Stock
| Metric | Buchanan County | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Household Size | 2.49 people | 2.37 people | 2.53 people |
| Median Structure Built Year | 1971 | 1971 | 1978 |
| Median Number of Rooms | 6.3 | 5.9 | 5.5 |
The typical housing unit in Buchanan County was built around 1971. On average, 2.5 people live in a home with about 6.3 rooms, staying for about 19.0 years on average.
Buchanan County, IA Housing Compared With Nearby Counties
Buchanan County, IA is the smallest of the 4 counties compared here, 20,694 residents against a local median of 130,985. Where Buchanan County, IA breaks from the counties next to it is median home price, sitting 243% above the local median of $87,001 at $298,275.
The counties themselves spread $187,198 on median home price, so Buchanan County, IA sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Buchanan County, IA has the highest median home price of the 4 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Median home price | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buchanan County, IA | 20,694 | $298,275 #1/4 | $848 #3/4 | 82.1% #2/4 |
| Benton County, IA | 25,722 | $45,471 | $826 | 85.0% |
| Linn County, IA | 230,016 | $232,669 | $944 | 73.5% |
| Black Hawk County, IA | 130,985 | $87,001 | $989 | 66.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the housing market in Buchanan County, Iowa.
What is the median home price in Buchanan County, Iowa?
The median home price in Buchanan County, Iowa is $298,275, higher than the Iowa average of $153,425.
What is the average home price in Buchanan County, Iowa?
The typical home price in Buchanan County, Iowa, reported as the median sale price, is $298,275. The median is used instead of a mathematical average because it is not skewed by a small number of very expensive or very cheap homes, so it better reflects what a typical buyer pays.
What is the median rent in Buchanan County, Iowa?
The median gross rent in Buchanan County, Iowa is $848 per month, lower than the Iowa average of $971.
What was the median gross rent in Buchanan County in 2020?
In 2020, the median gross rent in Buchanan County, Iowa was $690 per month.
What is the price-to-rent ratio in Buchanan County, Iowa?
The price-to-rent ratio in Buchanan County, Iowa is about 29.3, meaning it would take roughly 29.3 years of rent payments at the median rent to equal the median home price. That is a relatively high price-to-rent ratio, which tends to favor renting over buying in Buchanan County.
Are home prices or rent rising faster in Buchanan County, Iowa?
Both home prices and rent are rising in Buchanan County, up about 76.4% and 3.7% a year respectively. Home prices are changing faster.
What is the homeownership rate in Buchanan County, Iowa?
75.8% of households in Buchanan County, Iowa own their home, higher than the Iowa average of 65.6%.
What is the vacancy rate in Buchanan County, Iowa?
The housing vacancy rate in Buchanan County, Iowa is 7.7%, lower than the Iowa average of 8.5%.
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