Jefferson County, Iowa Housing Market Prices
Jefferson 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 2% above the Iowa median$156,250
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Median rent 9% below the Iowa median More expensive than 74% of counties in Iowa$882
Median Home Price Map: Nearby Counties
Housing Market Overview
| Metric | Jefferson County | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Price | $156,250 | $153,425 | $248,835 |
| Price Trend (Annual %) | 28.9% | 7.5% | 7.5% |
| Median Gross Rent | $882 | $971 | $1,407 |
| Rent Trend (Annual %) | 4.4% | 3.9% | 5.1% |
| Household Income Trend (Annual %) | — | — | — |
The median home price in Jefferson County is about 2% higher than in Iowa. Rent is about 9% 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 Jefferson County, up about 28.9% and 4.4% a year respectively. Home prices are changing faster.
Median rent in Jefferson County rose about 39.3% between 2015 and 2024, from $633 to $882. Over the same span, rent in Iowa rose about 39.6%.
Affordability
On average, housing unit costs 2.6 yearly household incomes in Jefferson County.
Buying the median-priced home in Jefferson County costs roughly 14.8 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 Jefferson County. The price-to-rent ratio in Iowa is about 13.2.
| Metric | Jefferson County | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Price | $156,250 | $153,425 | $248,835 |
| Median Household Income | $60,987 | $75,133 | $80,455 |
| Price-to-Income Ratio | 2.6 | 2.0 | 3.1 |
Home Prices vs Income Over Time
Between 2015 and 2024, the median home price in Jefferson County rose about 38.3%, while median household income rose about 42.0% 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 | Jefferson County | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homeownership Rate | 61.1% | 65.6% | 58.5% |
| Rental Rate | 29.1% | 25.9% | 31.2% |
| Vacancy Rate | 9.8% | 8.5% | 10.2% |
| Median Tenure (years) | 16.0 | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Median Year Moved In | 2010 | 2011 | 2011 |
Jefferson County has a homeownership rate of 61.1%, lower than the Iowa average of 65.6%. Its housing vacancy rate is 9.8%, compared with 8.5% in Iowa.
Housing Stock
| Metric | Jefferson County | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Household Size | 2.11 people | 2.37 people | 2.53 people |
| Median Structure Built Year | 1965 | 1971 | 1978 |
| Median Number of Rooms | 5.6 | 5.9 | 5.5 |
The typical housing unit in Jefferson County was built around 1965. On average, 2.1 people live in a home with about 5.6 rooms, staying for about 16.0 years on average.
Jefferson County, IA Housing Compared With Nearby Counties
How Jefferson County, IA compares with the 2 counties closest to it.
| Area | Population | Median home price | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jefferson County, IA | 15,705 | $156,250 #1/3 | $882 #2/3 | 67.7% #3/3 |
| Henry County, IA | 20,002 | $107,954 | $819 | 74.1% |
| Wapello County, IA | 35,362 | $83,500 | $920 | 68.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the housing market in Jefferson County, Iowa.
What is the median home price in Jefferson County, Iowa?
The median home price in Jefferson County, Iowa is $156,250, higher than the Iowa average of $153,425.
What is the average home price in Jefferson County, Iowa?
The typical home price in Jefferson County, Iowa, reported as the median sale price, is $156,250. 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 Jefferson County, Iowa?
The median gross rent in Jefferson County, Iowa is $882 per month, lower than the Iowa average of $971.
What was the median gross rent in Jefferson County in 2020?
In 2020, the median gross rent in Jefferson County, Iowa was $756 per month.
What is the price-to-rent ratio in Jefferson County, Iowa?
The price-to-rent ratio in Jefferson County, Iowa is about 14.8, meaning it would take roughly 14.8 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 Jefferson County.
Are home prices or rent rising faster in Jefferson County, Iowa?
Both home prices and rent are rising in Jefferson County, up about 28.9% and 4.4% a year respectively. Home prices are changing faster.
What is the homeownership rate in Jefferson County, Iowa?
61.1% of households in Jefferson County, Iowa own their home, lower than the Iowa average of 65.6%.
What is the vacancy rate in Jefferson County, Iowa?
The housing vacancy rate in Jefferson County, Iowa is 9.8%, higher than the Iowa average of 8.5%.
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