Counties in Iowa Where People Spend Most of Their Paycheck on Housing

Arina P Habich // Shutterstock

Counties in Iowa where people spend most of their paycheck on housing

It's no secret that many Americans are forgoing homeownership in favor of renting. In 2020, renters in the U.S. occupied 43 million housing units.

The Stacker team looked at data from a United States Census survey that revealed an estimated 43,378,800 renter-occupied homes in the United States as of 2017, which makes up 36.1% of all households in the country. In 2019, renting was more affordable than buying a median-priced home in 59% of the counties; in 2021, the opposite was true: Owning was more affordable than renting in 63% of U.S. counties.

Stacker compiled a list of counties in Iowa where people spend the highest percent of income on rent using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Of course, saving money by owning a home is unattainable for many Americans who don't have savings that could cover a down payment, those who are denied a mortgage, or both. Keep reading to see where in your home state most of people's take-home pay goes to their monthly rent.

You may also like: Highest-earning counties in Iowa

You may also like: Highest-rated breweries in Iowa

#50. Winneshiek County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 15.2%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 55.3%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 23.9%
- Total occupied households: 8,257
- Median household income: $65,263
- Median monthly housing cost: $829

#49. Adair County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 15.2%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 58.1%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 17.7%
- Total occupied households: 3,200
- Median household income: $53,363
- Median monthly housing cost: $678

#48. Wayne County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 15.3%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 55.1%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 20.8%
- Total occupied households: 2,689
- Median household income: $44,768
- Median monthly housing cost: $572

#47. Winnebago County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 15.4%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 60.4%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 21.0%
- Total occupied households: 4,577
- Median household income: $49,870
- Median monthly housing cost: $638

#46. Howard County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 15.4%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 60.1%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 15.9%
- Total occupied households: 3,810
- Median household income: $55,060
- Median monthly housing cost: $705

You may also like: Most popular boy names in the 60s in Iowa

You may also like: Best colleges in Iowa

#45. Buena Vista County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 15.4%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 56.7%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 18.7%
- Total occupied households: 7,524
- Median household income: $57,125
- Median monthly housing cost: $734

#44. Clayton County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 15.6%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 55.6%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 22.3%
- Total occupied households: 7,510
- Median household income: $53,152
- Median monthly housing cost: $691

#43. Monona County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 15.6%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 56.9%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 20.9%
- Total occupied households: 4,000
- Median household income: $47,605
- Median monthly housing cost: $620

#42. Floyd County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 15.7%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 55.9%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 21.6%
- Total occupied households: 6,903
- Median household income: $50,406
- Median monthly housing cost: $658

#41. Fayette County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 15.8%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 55.7%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 23.1%
- Total occupied households: 8,200
- Median household income: $51,128
- Median monthly housing cost: $672

You may also like: How drunk driving fatalities in Iowa compare to the rest of the US

#40. Tama County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 15.8%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 53.2%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 18.8%
- Total occupied households: 6,767
- Median household income: $56,037
- Median monthly housing cost: $737

#39. Cass County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 15.9%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 55.2%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 22.3%
- Total occupied households: 5,921
- Median household income: $50,187
- Median monthly housing cost: $664

#38. Marion County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 16.0%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 58.3%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 18.7%
- Total occupied households: 13,365
- Median household income: $61,038
- Median monthly housing cost: $812

#37. Union County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 16.0%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 53.1%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 21.4%
- Total occupied households: 5,176
- Median household income: $49,900
- Median monthly housing cost: $665

#36. Washington County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 16.2%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 53.9%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 20.4%
- Total occupied households: 8,832
- Median household income: $62,556
- Median monthly housing cost: $842

You may also like: Counties with the most college graduates in Iowa

You may also like: Best public high schools in Iowa

#35. Jones County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 16.2%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 58.2%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 21.5%
- Total occupied households: 8,130
- Median household income: $57,549
- Median monthly housing cost: $777

#34. Emmet County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 16.2%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 56.7%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 19.0%
- Total occupied households: 4,036
- Median household income: $51,563
- Median monthly housing cost: $698

#33. Mills County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 16.2%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 56.9%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 22.0%
- Total occupied households: 5,554
- Median household income: $72,079
- Median monthly housing cost: $976

#32. Woodbury County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 16.3%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 57.0%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 21.7%
- Total occupied households: 39,016
- Median household income: $59,224
- Median monthly housing cost: $802

#31. Boone County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 16.3%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 55.6%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 19.2%
- Total occupied households: 10,954
- Median household income: $64,000
- Median monthly housing cost: $870

You may also like: Recipes from Iowa

You may also like: Counties with the most homes selling under list price in Iowa

#30. Marshall County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 16.4%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 57.6%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 20.8%
- Total occupied households: 15,419
- Median household income: $56,437
- Median monthly housing cost: $771

#29. Keokuk County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 16.5%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 55.4%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 22.6%
- Total occupied households: 4,394
- Median household income: $52,881
- Median monthly housing cost: $725

#28. Cerro Gordo County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 16.5%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 55.3%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 21.8%
- Total occupied households: 19,241
- Median household income: $53,963
- Median monthly housing cost: $741

#27. Jasper County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 16.5%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 57.4%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 20.9%
- Total occupied households: 14,574
- Median household income: $58,952
- Median monthly housing cost: $812

#26. Iowa County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 16.6%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 57.2%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 19.2%
- Total occupied households: 6,780
- Median household income: $61,443
- Median monthly housing cost: $852

You may also like: Best places to retire in Iowa

You may also like: Best places to live in Iowa

#25. Webster County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 16.7%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 52.5%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 24.0%
- Total occupied households: 15,306
- Median household income: $47,466
- Median monthly housing cost: $659

#24. Lee County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 16.7%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 56.0%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 23.4%
- Total occupied households: 14,233
- Median household income: $49,564
- Median monthly housing cost: $689

#23. Henry County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 16.7%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 55.1%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 19.6%
- Total occupied households: 7,743
- Median household income: $53,501
- Median monthly housing cost: $745

#22. Dubuque County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 16.9%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 54.7%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 23.3%
- Total occupied households: 38,210
- Median household income: $63,031
- Median monthly housing cost: $888

#21. Decatur County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 16.9%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 53.3%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 27.3%
- Total occupied households: 3,200
- Median household income: $44,462
- Median monthly housing cost: $628

You may also like: Most popular boy names in the 80s in Iowa

You may also like: These 10 car insurers have the highest market share in Iowa

#20. Warren County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.1%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 55.7%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 22.5%
- Total occupied households: 19,258
- Median household income: $77,048
- Median monthly housing cost: $1,098

#19. Dallas County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.1%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 55.3%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 19.3%
- Total occupied households: 34,399
- Median household income: $88,479
- Median monthly housing cost: $1,261

#18. Clarke County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.2%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 54.3%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 23.7%
- Total occupied households: 3,895
- Median household income: $54,427
- Median monthly housing cost: $780

#17. Dickinson County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.4%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 56.6%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 23.0%
- Total occupied households: 8,174
- Median household income: $59,969
- Median monthly housing cost: $868

#16. Poweshiek County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.5%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 51.5%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 23.6%
- Total occupied households: 7,767
- Median household income: $53,852
- Median monthly housing cost: $785

You may also like: Counties with the most super commuters in Iowa

You may also like: How opioid prescriptions to Medicaid patients in Iowa stack up

#15. Linn County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.5%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 53.0%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 22.1%
- Total occupied households: 90,877
- Median household income: $64,903
- Median monthly housing cost: $949

#14. Muscatine County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.7%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 55.0%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 23.5%
- Total occupied households: 16,660
- Median household income: $58,453
- Median monthly housing cost: $864

#13. Jefferson County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.8%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 47.3%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 26.3%
- Total occupied households: 6,754
- Median household income: $47,708
- Median monthly housing cost: $706

#12. Scott County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.9%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 51.3%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 25.9%
- Total occupied households: 67,021
- Median household income: $61,183
- Median monthly housing cost: $915

#11. Clay County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.0%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 52.8%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 21.4%
- Total occupied households: 7,212
- Median household income: $50,521
- Median monthly housing cost: $759

You may also like: Biggest sources of immigrants to Iowa

You may also like: Chips, potatoes, and other groceries that dropped in price in the Midwest last month

#10. Pottawattamie County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.2%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 51.5%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 24.0%
- Total occupied households: 36,799
- Median household income: $60,065
- Median monthly housing cost: $909

#9. Clinton County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.3%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 50.4%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 25.9%
- Total occupied households: 19,635
- Median household income: $51,688
- Median monthly housing cost: $788

#8. Des Moines County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.4%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 51.8%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 24.8%
- Total occupied households: 16,891
- Median household income: $51,267
- Median monthly housing cost: $786

#7. Madison County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.4%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 52.0%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 21.6%
- Total occupied households: 6,462
- Median household income: $66,316
- Median monthly housing cost: $1,018

#6. Appanoose County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.7%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 49.4%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 24.7%
- Total occupied households: 5,353
- Median household income: $40,167
- Median monthly housing cost: $626

You may also like: Best-performing Iowa stocks last week

#5. Black Hawk County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.8%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 50.7%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 26.0%
- Total occupied households: 52,905
- Median household income: $53,539
- Median monthly housing cost: $839

#4. Wapello County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.9%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 51.7%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 25.8%
- Total occupied households: 14,481
- Median household income: $46,246
- Median monthly housing cost: $727

#3. Polk County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.9%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 49.6%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 25.9%
- Total occupied households: 187,798
- Median household income: $67,637
- Median monthly housing cost: $1,065

#2. Story County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 20.4%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 45.9%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 32.0%
- Total occupied households: 37,811
- Median household income: $56,756
- Median monthly housing cost: $963

#1. Johnson County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 21.0%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 45.5%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 31.4%
- Total occupied households: 59,134
- Median household income: $62,542
- Median monthly housing cost: $1,093

You may also like: Fastest-growing counties in Iowa

You may also like: How compensation compares between Iowa staff and travel nurses