Housing Market Overview
The median home price (often called the average home price), rent costs, affordability metrics, and housing stock characteristics for this housing market.
Median Home Price Map: Nearby Counties
Housing Market Overview
| Metric | Woodbury County | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Price | $96,672 | $143,535 | $242,182 |
| Price Trend (Annual %) | 4.0% | 7.5% | 8.2% |
| Median Gross Rent | $945 | $948 | $1,342 |
| Rent Trend (Annual %) | 4.6% | 4.1% | 5.1% |
| Household Income Trend (Annual %) | — | — | — |
The median home price in Woodbury County is about 33% lower than in Iowa. Rent follows a similar pattern, running close to the Iowa average.
Median Home and Rent Price Trends
Median Home Prices, 2015-2023
Median Rent Prices, 2015-2023
Both home prices and rent are rising in Woodbury County, up about 4.0% and 4.6% a year respectively. Rent is changing faster.
Median rent in Woodbury County rose about 39.6% between 2015 and 2023, from $677 to $945. Over the same span, rent in Iowa rose about 36.3%.
Affordability
On average, housing unit costs 1.4 yearly household incomes in Woodbury County.
Buying the median-priced home in Woodbury 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 Woodbury County. The price-to-rent ratio in Iowa is about 12.6.
| Metric | Woodbury County | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Price | $96,672 | $143,535 | $242,182 |
| Median Household Income | $69,614 | $73,286 | $78,145 |
| Price-to-Income Ratio | 1.4 | 2.0 | 3.1 |
Home Prices vs Income Over Time
Between 2015 and 2023, the median home price in Woodbury County rose about 24.0%, while median household income rose about 55.9% between 2009 and 2023 — 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 | Woodbury County | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homeownership Rate | 64.3% | 65.3% | 58.2% |
| Rental Rate | 29.6% | 26.0% | 31.3% |
| Vacancy Rate | 6.1% | 8.6% | 10.6% |
| Median Tenure (years) | 15.0 | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Median Year Moved In | 2011 | 2011 | 2011 |
Woodbury County has a homeownership rate of 64.3%, lower than the Iowa average of 65.3%. Its housing vacancy rate is 6.1%, compared with 8.6% in Iowa.
Housing Stock
| Metric | Woodbury County | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Household Size | 2.49 people | 2.37 people | 2.54 people |
| Median Structure Built Year | 1965 | 1970 | 1978 |
| Median Number of Rooms | 5.8 | 5.9 | 5.5 |
The typical housing unit in Woodbury County was built around 1965. On average, 2.5 people live in a home with about 5.8 rooms, staying for about 15.0 years on average.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the housing market in Woodbury County, Iowa.
What is the median home price in Woodbury County, Iowa?
The median home price in Woodbury County, Iowa is $96,672, lower than the Iowa average of $143,535.
What is the average home price in Woodbury County, Iowa?
The typical home price in %s, reported as the median sale price, is %s. 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 Woodbury County, Iowa?
The median gross rent in Woodbury County, Iowa is $945 per month, about the same as the Iowa average.
What was the median gross rent in Woodbury County in 2020?
In 2020, the median gross rent in Woodbury County, Iowa was $802 per month.
What is the price-to-rent ratio in Woodbury County, Iowa?
The price-to-rent ratio in Woodbury 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 Woodbury County.
Are home prices or rent rising faster in Woodbury County, Iowa?
Both home prices and rent are rising in Woodbury County, up about 4.0% and 4.6% a year respectively. Rent is changing faster.
What is the homeownership rate in Woodbury County, Iowa?
64.3% of households in Woodbury County, Iowa own their home, lower than the Iowa average of 65.3%.
What is the vacancy rate in Woodbury County, Iowa?
The housing vacancy rate in Woodbury County, Iowa is 6.1%, lower than the Iowa average of 8.6%.