Union County, Iowa Housing Market Prices
Union 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 52% below the Iowa median Cheaper than 74% of counties in Iowa$73,333
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Median rent 26% below the Iowa median Cheaper than 88% of counties in Iowa$721
Median Home Price Map: Nearby Counties
Housing Market Overview
| Metric | Union County | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Price | $73,333 | $153,425 | $248,835 |
| Price Trend (Annual %) | -0.8% | 7.5% | 7.5% |
| Median Gross Rent | $721 | $971 | $1,407 |
| Rent Trend (Annual %) | 2.5% | 3.9% | 5.1% |
| Household Income Trend (Annual %) | — | — | — |
The median home price in Union County is about 52% lower than in Iowa. Rent is about 26% lower than the Iowa average.
Median Home and Rent Price Trends
Median Home Prices, 2015-2024
Median Rent Prices, 2015-2024
Home prices and rent are moving in opposite directions in Union County: home prices fell about 0.8% a year while rent rose about 2.5% a year. That is an unusual pattern worth watching.
Median rent in Union County rose about 21.8% between 2015 and 2024, from $592 to $721. Over the same span, rent in Iowa rose about 39.6%.
Affordability
On average, housing unit costs 1.3 yearly household incomes in Union County.
Buying the median-priced home in Union County costs roughly 8.5 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 Union County. The price-to-rent ratio in Iowa is about 13.2.
| Metric | Union County | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Price | $73,333 | $153,425 | $248,835 |
| Median Household Income | $58,088 | $75,133 | $80,455 |
| Price-to-Income Ratio | 1.3 | 2.0 | 3.1 |
Home Prices vs Income Over Time
Between 2015 and 2024, the median home price in Union County rose about 55.0%, while median household income rose about 36.6% between 2010 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 | Union County | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homeownership Rate | 63.8% | 65.6% | 58.5% |
| Rental Rate | 24.6% | 25.9% | 31.2% |
| Vacancy Rate | 11.6% | 8.5% | 10.2% |
| Median Tenure (years) | 17.0 | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Median Year Moved In | 2009 | 2011 | 2011 |
Union County has a homeownership rate of 63.8%, lower than the Iowa average of 65.6%. Its housing vacancy rate is 11.6%, compared with 8.5% in Iowa.
Housing Stock
| Metric | Union County | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Household Size | 2.28 people | 2.37 people | 2.53 people |
| Median Structure Built Year | 1961 | 1971 | 1978 |
| Median Number of Rooms | 5.8 | 5.9 | 5.5 |
The typical housing unit in Union County was built around 1961. On average, 2.3 people live in a home with about 5.8 rooms, staying for about 17.0 years on average.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the housing market in Union County, Iowa.
What is the median home price in Union County, Iowa?
The median home price in Union County, Iowa is $73,333, lower than the Iowa average of $153,425.
What is the average home price in Union County, Iowa?
The typical home price in Union County, Iowa, reported as the median sale price, is $73,333. 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 Union County, Iowa?
The median gross rent in Union County, Iowa is $721 per month, lower than the Iowa average of $971.
What was the median gross rent in Union County in 2020?
In 2020, the median gross rent in Union County, Iowa was $610 per month.
What is the price-to-rent ratio in Union County, Iowa?
The price-to-rent ratio in Union County, Iowa is about 8.5, meaning it would take roughly 8.5 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 Union County.
Are home prices or rent rising faster in Union County, Iowa?
Home prices and rent are moving in opposite directions in Union County: home prices fell about 0.8% a year while rent rose about 2.5% a year. That is an unusual pattern worth watching.
What is the homeownership rate in Union County, Iowa?
63.8% of households in Union County, Iowa own their home, lower than the Iowa average of 65.6%.
What is the vacancy rate in Union County, Iowa?
The housing vacancy rate in Union County, Iowa is 11.6%, higher than the Iowa average of 8.5%.
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