Housing decision brief
Mahaska County, IA Housing Market
Mahaska County screens as a below-state purchase price, rent that needs comparison, a higher tax-rate signal market. Use the page as a decision brief, not just a price lookup, because local income, taxes, and data confidence change how affordable the county really is.
43rd lowest home value out of 99 Iowa counties with data | 59th lowest rent out of 99
Median home value
$140,900
Purchase-price signal from Census ACS.
Median rent
$821/mo
Gross rent, including utilities where reported.
Monthly owner cost
$865/mo
Owner costs before individual loan terms.
Decision snapshot
Read this county in four signals.
Buy screen
2.0x
Median home value divided by local household income.
Rent burden
21.0%
Below 30% usually screens as less pressured.
Rent vs own
$44/mo
Median rent screens below owner cost.
Data confidence
1 note
Crime coverage is partial, so safety comparisons need source context.
What Works
Lower purchase price
$140,900 median home value is 5% below Iowa county median
Rent burden below pressure line
21.00% of renter income goes to rent, below the 30% burden threshold.
What to Check
Tax rate needs attention
1.39% effective property-tax rate is 4% above Iowa county median
Crime data coverage
Crime data coverage is partial. Treat zero or low crime rates as incomplete until you check the source coverage.
Best Fit For
- Buyers comparing homes to local incomes
- Renters trying to keep rent below the burden threshold
- Remote earners or cash buyers looking below the state price line
Poor Fit For
- Buyers focused only on purchase price and ignoring annual property tax
- Anyone treating reported crime rates as complete without source context
County vs State vs National
The county number only matters after you see the benchmark. These comparisons show where Mahaska County is genuinely cheap, where it is average, and where the hidden cost may be.
| Metric | County | State | U.S. | Signal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Median home value Lower usually helps affordability. | $140,900 | $148,600 | $281,900 | 5% favorable5% below Iowa county median |
Median gross rent Lower usually helps affordability. | $821 | $800 | $1,163 | Near state median3% above Iowa county median |
Monthly owner cost Lower usually helps affordability. | $865 | $886 | $1,672 | Near state median2% below Iowa county median |
Median household income | $69,019 | $68,704 | $74,755 | Near state medianAt the Iowa county median |
Effective property-tax rate Lower usually helps affordability. | 1.39% | 1.34% | 1.02% | Near state median4% above Iowa county median |
Rent burden Lower usually helps affordability. | 21.00% | 25.00% | N/A | 16% favorable21.00% of renter income goes to rent. |
Income Fit
A low price only helps if local income can carry the monthly cost. This panel compares the county income base with rent and owner-cost thresholds.
Rent cushion
+$36,179
Median income minus rent threshold.
Owner cushion
+$31,948
Median income minus owner-cost threshold.
Affordability Advisory
This turns the raw housing numbers into income and buy-versus-rent screens.
Affordability verdict
For renters in Mahaska County, the market is affordable. Expect to pay around $821/month in gross rent, with 21.0% of renter households considered cost-burdened.
Rent vs own
Renters in Mahaska County pay $821/month on average, compared to $865/month for homeowners. This market favors renters by about 5%.
Income needed
To afford the median rent without exceeding 30% of gross income, a household needs to earn approximately $32,840/year. For owner costs at the 28% rule, the required income is roughly $37,071/year. With a median household income of $69,019, most households can comfortably afford rent here. Notably, 21.0% of renter households in Mahaska County are cost-burdened, spending more than 30% of income on housing.
Regional context
Mahaska County sits 7% more expensive than Henry County ($770/month) in terms of median gross rent.
Better Counties to Compare
Similar counties are matched on home value, rent, income, and state context. This is more useful than a simple nearest-price list.
| County | Home Value | Rent | Why compare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tama County, IA | $139,900 | $865/mo | Same-state comparison near $139,900 home value and $865/mo rent. |
| Buena Vista County, IA | $146,900 | $835/mo | Same-state comparison near $146,900 home value and $835/mo rent. |
| Webster County, IA | $138,500 | $762/mo | Same-state comparison near $138,500 home value and $762/mo rent. |
| Monroe County, IA | $135,900 | $787/mo | Same-state comparison near $135,900 home value and $787/mo rent. |
| Shelby County, IA | $156,200 | $810/mo | Same-state comparison near $156,200 home value and $810/mo rent. |
Data Confidence
- Crime coverage is partial, so safety comparisons need source context.
Next Checks
Housing Questions for Mahaska County
Is Mahaska County affordable for buying a home?
Is renting or owning cheaper in Mahaska County?
How much income do you need for housing in Mahaska County?
What should I double-check before moving to Mahaska County?
Data: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023) — Informational only. Not financial or legal advice.