Decatur County, Iowa Housing Market Prices
Decatur 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 81% below the Iowa median Cheaper than 88% of counties in Iowa$29,305
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Median rent 37% below the Iowa median Cheapest county in Iowa$610
Median Home Price Map: Nearby Counties
Housing Market Overview
| Metric | Decatur County | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Price | $29,305 | $153,425 | $248,835 |
| Price Trend (Annual %) | 11.9% | 7.5% | 7.5% |
| Median Gross Rent | $610 | $971 | $1,407 |
| Rent Trend (Annual %) | 2.6% | 3.9% | 5.1% |
| Household Income Trend (Annual %) | — | — | — |
The median home price in Decatur County is about 81% lower than in Iowa. Rent is about 37% 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 Decatur County, up about 11.9% and 2.6% a year respectively. Home prices are changing faster.
Median rent in Decatur County rose about 32.2% between 2015 and 2024, from $462 to $611. Over the same span, rent in Iowa rose about 39.6%.
Affordability
On average, housing unit costs 0.5 yearly household incomes in Decatur County.
Buying the median-priced home in Decatur County costs roughly 4.0 years of rent at the median monthly rate. That is a relatively low price-to-rent ratio, which tends to favor buying over renting in Decatur County. The price-to-rent ratio in Iowa is about 13.2.
| Metric | Decatur County | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Price | $29,305 | $153,425 | $248,835 |
| Median Household Income | $58,830 | $75,133 | $80,455 |
| Price-to-Income Ratio | 0.5 | 2.0 | 3.1 |
Home Prices vs Income Over Time
Between 2015 and 2024, the median home price in Decatur County fell about 54.2%, while median household income rose about 64.9% 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 | Decatur County | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homeownership Rate | 58.2% | 65.6% | 58.5% |
| Rental Rate | 25.3% | 25.9% | 31.2% |
| Vacancy Rate | 16.5% | 8.5% | 10.2% |
| Median Tenure (years) | 15.0 | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Median Year Moved In | 2011 | 2011 | 2011 |
Decatur County has a homeownership rate of 58.2%, lower than the Iowa average of 65.6%. Its housing vacancy rate is 16.5%, compared with 8.5% in Iowa.
Housing Stock
| Metric | Decatur County | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Household Size | 2.35 people | 2.37 people | 2.53 people |
| Median Structure Built Year | 1970 | 1971 | 1978 |
| Median Number of Rooms | 6.0 | 5.9 | 5.5 |
The typical housing unit in Decatur County was built around 1970. On average, 2.4 people live in a home with about 6.0 rooms, staying for about 15.0 years on average.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the housing market in Decatur County, Iowa.
What is the median home price in Decatur County, Iowa?
The median home price in Decatur County, Iowa is $29,305, lower than the Iowa average of $153,425.
What is the average home price in Decatur County, Iowa?
The typical home price in Decatur County, Iowa, reported as the median sale price, is $29,305. 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 Decatur County, Iowa?
The median gross rent in Decatur County, Iowa is $611 per month, lower than the Iowa average of $971.
What was the median gross rent in Decatur County in 2020?
In 2020, the median gross rent in Decatur County, Iowa was $568 per month.
What is the price-to-rent ratio in Decatur County, Iowa?
The price-to-rent ratio in Decatur County, Iowa is about 4.0, meaning it would take roughly 4.0 years of rent payments at the median rent to equal the median home price. That is a relatively low price-to-rent ratio, which tends to favor buying over renting in Decatur County.
Are home prices or rent rising faster in Decatur County, Iowa?
Both home prices and rent are rising in Decatur County, up about 11.9% and 2.6% a year respectively. Home prices are changing faster.
What is the homeownership rate in Decatur County, Iowa?
58.2% of households in Decatur County, Iowa own their home, lower than the Iowa average of 65.6%.
What is the vacancy rate in Decatur County, Iowa?
The housing vacancy rate in Decatur County, Iowa is 16.5%, higher than the Iowa average of 8.5%.
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