Union County, Iowa Housing Market

In Union County, Iowa, the median home value is $122,000, with a median monthly rent of $721. This places Union County at #2599 nationally out of 3134 counties by median home value, and #86 within Iowa.

Median Home Value $122,000
Median Rent $721/mo
Owner Occupancy 72.1%
Price/Rent Ratio 14.1

📈 Price Trend (2017 → 2024)

📊 Recent Market Momentum (FHFA HPI)

FHFA House Price Index — All-Transactions, Annual (2000 = 100) · Latest: 2025

💡 Year-over-Year Trend: Home prices in Union County rose +11.0% year-over-year as of 2025. (Source: FHFA)

📍 Economic Snapshot

💼

Employment & Wages

4,291
jobs (private sector)
  • Avg weekly wage: $903
  • Establishments: 398
  • BLS QCEW, 2025
🏗️

Housing Supply

23
new units authorized (2025)
  • Single-family: 5
  • Multi-family: 18
  • U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey
🚚

Migration Patterns

+285
net migration (filers, 2021-2022)
  • Inflow: 4,663 (avg $63,133)
  • Outflow: 4,378 (avg $64,333)
  • IRS Statistics of Income

How Union County Compares

MetricUnion CountyIowa AverageU.S. Average
Median Home Value $122,000 $171,037 $227,706
Median Gross Rent $721 $832 $968
Owner Occupancy Rate 72.1% 75.8% 73.3%
Price/Rent Ratio 14.1 17.0 18.7

Market Analysis

The median home value in Union County is 28.7% below the Iowa state average and 46.4% below the U.S. national average. The median rent of $721/month is 13.3% below the state average.

With a price-to-rent ratio of 14.1, buying a home in Union County is generally more favorable than renting for those planning to stay long-term. A ratio below 15 typically signals that purchasing is financially advantageous over a multi-year horizon.

Union County has an owner-occupancy rate of 72.1%, compared to 75.8% in Iowa and 73.3% nationally. This indicates a more renter-heavy market than the U.S. average.

Similar Counties by Home Value

CountyStateMedian Home ValueMedian Rent
Ford County Illinois $122,000 $923
Seminole County Georgia $121,900 $879
Massac County Illinois $121,900 $756
Audubon County Iowa $121,900 $759
St. Lawrence County New York $121,900 $818

Other Counties in Iowa

CountyMedian Home ValueMedian RentOwner Occ.
Audubon County $121,900 $759 76.2%
Hardin County $122,500 $795 73.6%
Osceola County $122,600 $797 77.9%
Montgomery County $121,400 $814 69.1%
Palo Alto County $123,200 $638 77.1%

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).