Howard County, Iowa Housing Market Prices
Howard 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 29% below the Iowa median$109,318
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Median rent 27% below the Iowa median Cheaper than 90% of counties in Iowa$713
Median Home Price Map: Nearby Counties
Housing Market Overview
| Metric | Howard County | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Price | $109,318 | $153,425 | $248,835 |
| Price Trend (Annual %) | 7.0% | 7.5% | 7.5% |
| Median Gross Rent | $713 | $971 | $1,407 |
| Rent Trend (Annual %) | 2.8% | 3.9% | 5.1% |
| Household Income Trend (Annual %) | — | — | — |
The median home price in Howard County is about 29% lower than in Iowa. Rent is about 27% 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 Howard County, up about 7.0% and 2.8% a year respectively. Home prices are changing faster.
Median rent in Howard County rose about 17.9% between 2015 and 2024, from $604 to $713. Over the same span, rent in Iowa rose about 39.6%.
Affordability
On average, housing unit costs 1.6 yearly household incomes in Howard County.
Buying the median-priced home in Howard County costs roughly 12.8 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 Howard County. The price-to-rent ratio in Iowa is about 13.2.
| Metric | Howard County | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Price | $109,318 | $153,425 | $248,835 |
| Median Household Income | $68,882 | $75,133 | $80,455 |
| Price-to-Income Ratio | 1.6 | 2.0 | 3.1 |
Home Prices vs Income Over Time
Between 2015 and 2024, the median home price in Howard County rose about 31.3%, while median household income rose about 45.4% 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 | Howard County | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homeownership Rate | 67.6% | 65.6% | 58.5% |
| Rental Rate | 19.7% | 25.9% | 31.2% |
| Vacancy Rate | 12.7% | 8.5% | 10.2% |
| Median Tenure (years) | 19.0 | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Median Year Moved In | 2007 | 2011 | 2011 |
Howard County has a homeownership rate of 67.6%, higher than the Iowa average of 65.6%. Its housing vacancy rate is 12.7%, compared with 8.5% in Iowa.
Housing Stock
| Metric | Howard County | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Household Size | 2.45 people | 2.37 people | 2.53 people |
| Median Structure Built Year | 1951 | 1971 | 1978 |
| Median Number of Rooms | 6.6 | 5.9 | 5.5 |
The typical housing unit in Howard County was built around 1951. On average, 2.5 people live in a home with about 6.6 rooms, staying for about 19.0 years on average.
Howard County, IA Housing Compared With Nearby Counties
How Howard County, IA compares with the 2 counties closest to it.
| Area | Population | Median home price | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Howard County, IA | 9,445 | $109,318 #2/3 | $713 #3/3 | 77.4% #3/3 |
| Fillmore County, MN | 21,414 | $208,333 | $796 | 82.6% |
| Mower County, MN | 40,341 | $103,820 | $926 | 77.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the housing market in Howard County, Iowa.
What is the median home price in Howard County, Iowa?
The median home price in Howard County, Iowa is $109,318, lower than the Iowa average of $153,425.
What is the average home price in Howard County, Iowa?
The typical home price in Howard County, Iowa, reported as the median sale price, is $109,318. 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 Howard County, Iowa?
The median gross rent in Howard County, Iowa is $713 per month, lower than the Iowa average of $971.
What was the median gross rent in Howard County in 2020?
In 2020, the median gross rent in Howard County, Iowa was $660 per month.
What is the price-to-rent ratio in Howard County, Iowa?
The price-to-rent ratio in Howard County, Iowa is about 12.8, meaning it would take roughly 12.8 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 Howard County.
Are home prices or rent rising faster in Howard County, Iowa?
Both home prices and rent are rising in Howard County, up about 7.0% and 2.8% a year respectively. Home prices are changing faster.
What is the homeownership rate in Howard County, Iowa?
67.6% of households in Howard County, Iowa own their home, higher than the Iowa average of 65.6%.
What is the vacancy rate in Howard County, Iowa?
The housing vacancy rate in Howard County, Iowa is 12.7%, higher than the Iowa average of 8.5%.
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