Counties with the lowest cost of living in Iowa

Written by:
April 12, 2024
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Counties with the lowest cost of living in Iowa

While inflation has fallen from 2022 peaks, high prices are still eating into household budgets. Many Americans are paying keen attention to their finances and finding ways to reduce spending.

Home prices, rent, and food inflation, as well as higher prices for gas in the last couple of years, are making it so that each dollar earned has even less purchasing power than before. In the first two months of 2024, Americans were able to save about 3.9% of their disposable income, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, well below historic levels.

Stacker compiled a list of counties with the lowest cost of living in Iowa using rankings from Niche.

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#30. Chickasaw County, Iowa

- Overall Rank: 657
- Population: 11,957
- Median household income: $72,734
- Median home value: $151,700 (82% own)
- Median rent: $745 (18% rent)

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#29. Crawford County, Iowa

- Overall Rank: 629
- Population: 16,450
- Median household income: $61,188
- Median home value: $118,400 (74% own)
- Median rent: $732 (26% rent)

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#28. Keokuk County, Iowa

- Overall Rank: 625
- Population: 10,026
- Median household income: $60,016
- Median home value: $105,500 (78% own)
- Median rent: $744 (22% rent)

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#27. Monroe County, Iowa

- Overall Rank: 618
- Population: 7,574
- Median household income: $76,324
- Median home value: $128,000 (82% own)
- Median rent: $723 (18% rent)

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#26. Decatur County, Iowa

- Overall Rank: 607
- Population: 7,684
- Median household income: $56,068
- Median home value: $97,000 (67% own)
- Median rent: $621 (33% rent)

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#25. Wright County, Iowa

- Overall Rank: 596
- Population: 12,897
- Median household income: $58,240
- Median home value: $105,400 (74% own)
- Median rent: $731 (26% rent)

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#24. Howard County, Iowa

- Overall Rank: 589
- Population: 9,479
- Median household income: $63,947
- Median home value: $125,100 (76% own)
- Median rent: $708 (24% rent)

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#23. Montgomery County, Iowa

- Overall Rank: 586
- Population: 10,285
- Median household income: $61,261
- Median home value: $99,300 (71% own)
- Median rent: $718 (29% rent)

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#22. Floyd County, Iowa

- Overall Rank: 583
- Population: 15,601
- Median household income: $62,356
- Median home value: $128,800 (76% own)
- Median rent: $627 (24% rent)

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#21. O'Brien County, Iowa

- Overall Rank: 582
- Population: 14,138
- Median household income: $65,076
- Median home value: $141,900 (76% own)
- Median rent: $691 (24% rent)

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Eddie J. Rodriquez // Shutterstock

#20. Louisa County, Iowa

- Overall Rank: 564
- Population: 10,823
- Median household income: $72,500
- Median home value: $125,500 (78% own)
- Median rent: $747 (22% rent)

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#19. Winnebago County, Iowa

- Overall Rank: 550
- Population: 10,704
- Median household income: $62,853
- Median home value: $121,700 (75% own)
- Median rent: $669 (25% rent)

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#18. Humboldt County, Iowa

- Overall Rank: 542
- Population: 9,606
- Median household income: $66,617
- Median home value: $134,300 (74% own)
- Median rent: $662 (26% rent)

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#17. Cherokee County, Iowa

- Overall Rank: 540
- Population: 11,601
- Median household income: $63,638
- Median home value: $145,300 (74% own)
- Median rent: $655 (26% rent)

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#16. Hardin County, Iowa

- Overall Rank: 531
- Population: 16,861
- Median household income: $64,656
- Median home value: $109,300 (74% own)
- Median rent: $752 (26% rent)

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#15. Monona County, Iowa

- Overall Rank: 526
- Population: 8,671
- Median household income: $59,897
- Median home value: $108,700 (78% own)
- Median rent: $761 (22% rent)

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#14. Hancock County, Iowa

- Overall Rank: 500
- Population: 10,790
- Median household income: $67,865
- Median home value: $116,000 (81% own)
- Median rent: $782 (19% rent)

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#13. Audubon County, Iowa

- Overall Rank: 466
- Population: 5,651
- Median household income: $54,973
- Median home value: $99,900 (78% own)
- Median rent: $735 (22% rent)

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#12. Worth County, Iowa

- Overall Rank: 385
- Population: 7,417
- Median household income: $69,897
- Median home value: $130,600 (77% own)
- Median rent: $685 (23% rent)

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#11. Osceola County, Iowa

- Overall Rank: 351
- Population: 6,149
- Median household income: $67,561
- Median home value: $114,800 (76% own)
- Median rent: $801 (24% rent)

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#10. Emmet County, Iowa

- Overall Rank: 342
- Population: 9,349
- Median household income: $64,461
- Median home value: $102,700 (78% own)
- Median rent: $724 (22% rent)

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#9. Franklin County, Iowa

- Overall Rank: 319
- Population: 10,015
- Median household income: $62,214
- Median home value: $108,200 (73% own)
- Median rent: $707 (27% rent)

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#8. Van Buren County, Iowa

- Overall Rank: 303
- Population: 7,207
- Median household income: $58,417
- Median home value: $107,700 (83% own)
- Median rent: $661 (17% rent)

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#7. Wayne County, Iowa

- Overall Rank: 281
- Population: 6,484
- Median household income: $58,257
- Median home value: $98,700 (80% own)
- Median rent: $627 (20% rent)

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#6. Palo Alto County, Iowa

- Overall Rank: 244
- Population: 8,938
- Median household income: $67,306
- Median home value: $117,000 (76% own)
- Median rent: $631 (24% rent)

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#5. Calhoun County, Iowa

- Overall Rank: 236
- Population: 9,893
- Median household income: $65,614
- Median home value: $104,900 (79% own)
- Median rent: $696 (21% rent)

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#4. Taylor County, Iowa

- Overall Rank: 188
- Population: 5,916
- Median household income: $65,926
- Median home value: $104,500 (79% own)
- Median rent: $636 (21% rent)

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#3. Ida County, Iowa

- Overall Rank: 155
- Population: 6,969
- Median household income: $63,125
- Median home value: $108,000 (78% own)
- Median rent: $646 (22% rent)

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#2. Pocahontas County, Iowa

- Overall Rank: 150
- Population: 7,061
- Median household income: $61,434
- Median home value: $90,400 (78% own)
- Median rent: $735 (22% rent)

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#1. Sac County, Iowa

- Overall Rank: 124
- Population: 9,778
- Median household income: $68,778
- Median home value: $119,500 (81% own)
- Median rent: $622 (19% rent)

This story features data reporting and writing by Elena Cox and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 32 states.

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