Howard County, Iowa Housing Market
In Howard County, Iowa, the median home value is $147,800, with a median monthly rent of $713. This places Howard County at #2267 nationally out of 3134 counties by median home value, and #67 within Iowa.
📈 Price Trend (2017 → 2024)
📊 Recent Market Momentum (FHFA HPI)
FHFA House Price Index — All-Transactions, Annual (2000 = 100) · Latest: 2025
📍 Economic Snapshot
Employment & Wages
- Avg weekly wage: $961
- Establishments: 318
- BLS QCEW, 2025
Housing Supply
- Single-family: 6
- Multi-family: 0
- U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey
Migration Patterns
- Inflow: 3,975 (avg $72,167)
- Outflow: 3,786 (avg $73,248)
- IRS Statistics of Income
📍 Sub-Market Activity
Top 1 active ZIP codes in Howard County · Latest: 2025
| # | ZIP Code | HPI | YoY Change | Latest Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 52136 | 260.5 | +3.28% | 2025 |
Source: FHFA HPI for Five-Digit ZIP Codes (All-Transactions Index, 2000 = 100).
This product uses FHFA Data but is neither endorsed nor certified by FHFA.
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💰 Mortgage Guide → 🧾 Property Tax Data →How Howard County Compares
| Metric | Howard County | Iowa Average | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $147,800 | $171,037 | $227,706 |
| Median Gross Rent | $713 | $832 | $968 |
| Owner Occupancy Rate | 77.4% | 75.8% | 73.3% |
| Price/Rent Ratio | 17.3 | 17.0 | 18.7 |
Market Analysis
The median home value in Howard County is 13.6% below the Iowa state average and 35.1% below the U.S. national average. The median rent of $713/month is 14.3% below the state average.
With a price-to-rent ratio of 17.3, the buy-vs-rent decision in Howard County is balanced. Whether buying or renting makes more sense depends on your time horizon, down payment capacity, and local market conditions.
Howard County has an owner-occupancy rate of 77.4%, compared to 75.8% in Iowa and 73.3% nationally. This indicates a more homeowner-heavy market than the U.S. average.
Similar Counties by Home Value
| County | State | Median Home Value | Median Rent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Graves County | Kentucky | $147,800 | $775 |
| Garvin County | Oklahoma | $147,800 | $825 |
| Livingston County | Missouri | $147,700 | $768 |
| Herkimer County | New York | $147,700 | $823 |
| Hamilton County | Texas | $147,700 | $885 |
Other Counties in Iowa
| County | Median Home Value | Median Rent | Owner Occ. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kossuth County | $148,300 | $859 | 78.6% |
| Tama County | $148,600 | $872 | 76.0% |
| Worth County | $145,800 | $758 | 83.2% |
| Louisa County | $150,100 | $775 | 80.3% |
| Marshall County | $145,500 | $885 | 75.0% |
Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 2024 5-Year Estimates (2017–2024). Variables: B25077 (Median Home Value), B25064 (Median Gross Rent), B25003 (Tenure). Data collected on 2026-10-14. The price-to-rent ratio is calculated as Median Home Value ÷ (Median Monthly Rent × 12).