Hardin County, Iowa Housing Market Prices
Hardin 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 51% below the Iowa median Cheaper than 73% of counties in Iowa$75,416
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Median rent 18% below the Iowa median$794
Median Home Price Map: Nearby Counties
Housing Market Overview
| Metric | Hardin County | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Price | $75,416 | $153,425 | $248,835 |
| Price Trend (Annual %) | 5.4% | 7.5% | 7.5% |
| Median Gross Rent | $794 | $971 | $1,407 |
| Rent Trend (Annual %) | 4.2% | 3.9% | 5.1% |
| Household Income Trend (Annual %) | — | — | — |
The median home price in Hardin County is about 51% lower than in Iowa. Rent is about 18% 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 Hardin County, up about 5.4% and 4.2% a year respectively. Home prices are changing faster.
Median rent in Hardin County rose about 40.1% between 2015 and 2024, from $567 to $794. Over the same span, rent in Iowa rose about 39.6%.
Affordability
On average, housing unit costs 1.2 yearly household incomes in Hardin County.
Buying the median-priced home in Hardin County costs roughly 7.9 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 Hardin County. The price-to-rent ratio in Iowa is about 13.2.
| Metric | Hardin County | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Price | $75,416 | $153,425 | $248,835 |
| Median Household Income | $64,879 | $75,133 | $80,455 |
| Price-to-Income Ratio | 1.2 | 2.0 | 3.1 |
Home Prices vs Income Over Time
Between 2015 and 2024, the median home price in Hardin County rose about 97.7%, while median household income rose about 38.1% between 2009 and 2025 — the home price grew faster than income.
Income Growth vs Housing Cost Growth (Year-over-Year %)
Compare income and housing cost trends.
Occupancy & Tenure
| Metric | Hardin County | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homeownership Rate | 64.6% | 65.6% | 58.5% |
| Rental Rate | 23.2% | 25.9% | 31.2% |
| Vacancy Rate | 12.1% | 8.5% | 10.2% |
| Median Tenure (years) | 18.0 | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Median Year Moved In | 2008 | 2011 | 2011 |
Hardin County has a homeownership rate of 64.6%, lower than the Iowa average of 65.6%. Its housing vacancy rate is 12.1%, compared with 8.5% in Iowa.
Housing Stock
| Metric | Hardin County | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Household Size | 2.27 people | 2.37 people | 2.53 people |
| Median Structure Built Year | 1952 | 1971 | 1978 |
| Median Number of Rooms | 6.2 | 5.9 | 5.5 |
The typical housing unit in Hardin County was built around 1952. On average, 2.3 people live in a home with about 6.2 rooms, staying for about 18.0 years on average.
Hardin County, IA Housing Compared With Nearby Counties
How Hardin County, IA compares with the 2 counties closest to it.
| Area | Population | Median home price | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hardin County, IA | 16,639 | $75,416 #3/3 | $794 #3/3 | 73.6% #2/3 |
| Story County, IA | 100,466 | $260,937 | $1,018 | 55.5% |
| Marshall County, IA | 40,114 | $122,261 | $884 | 75.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the housing market in Hardin County, Iowa.
What is the median home price in Hardin County, Iowa?
The median home price in Hardin County, Iowa is $75,416, lower than the Iowa average of $153,425.
What is the average home price in Hardin County, Iowa?
The typical home price in Hardin County, Iowa, reported as the median sale price, is $75,416. 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 Hardin County, Iowa?
The median gross rent in Hardin County, Iowa is $794 per month, lower than the Iowa average of $971.
What was the median gross rent in Hardin County in 2020?
In 2020, the median gross rent in Hardin County, Iowa was $692 per month.
What is the price-to-rent ratio in Hardin County, Iowa?
The price-to-rent ratio in Hardin County, Iowa is about 7.9, meaning it would take roughly 7.9 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 Hardin County.
Are home prices or rent rising faster in Hardin County, Iowa?
Both home prices and rent are rising in Hardin County, up about 5.4% and 4.2% a year respectively. Home prices are changing faster.
What is the homeownership rate in Hardin County, Iowa?
64.6% of households in Hardin County, Iowa own their home, lower than the Iowa average of 65.6%.
What is the vacancy rate in Hardin County, Iowa?
The housing vacancy rate in Hardin County, Iowa is 12.1%, higher than the Iowa average of 8.5%.
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