Housing decision brief
Winnebago County, IA Housing Market
Winnebago County screens as a below-state purchase price, below-state rent, 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.
28th lowest home value out of 99 Iowa counties with data | 16th lowest rent out of 99
Median home value
$132,300
Purchase-price signal from Census ACS.
Median rent
$712/mo
Gross rent, including utilities where reported.
Monthly owner cost
$776/mo
Owner costs before individual loan terms.
Decision snapshot
Read this county in four signals.
Buy screen
2.1x
Median home value divided by local household income.
Rent burden
25.0%
Below 30% usually screens as less pressured.
Rent vs own
$64/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
$132,300 median home value is 11% below Iowa county median
Lower rent
$712/mo is 11% below Iowa county median
Rent burden below pressure line
25.00% of renter income goes to rent, below the 30% burden threshold.
What to Check
Lower income base
$63,719 median income is 7% below Iowa county median
Tax rate needs attention
1.36% effective property-tax rate is 2% 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
- Remote earners or cash buyers looking below the state price line
Poor Fit For
- Households dependent on a deep local wage market
- 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 Winnebago 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. | $132,300 | $148,600 | $281,900 | 11% favorable11% below Iowa county median |
Median gross rent Lower usually helps affordability. | $712 | $800 | $1,163 | 11% favorable11% below Iowa county median |
Monthly owner cost Lower usually helps affordability. | $776 | $886 | $1,672 | 12% favorable12% below Iowa county median |
Median household income | $63,719 | $68,704 | $74,755 | 7% pressure7% below Iowa county median |
Effective property-tax rate Lower usually helps affordability. | 1.36% | 1.34% | 1.02% | Near state median2% above Iowa county median |
Rent burden Lower usually helps affordability. | 25.00% | 25.00% | N/A | Near state median25.00% 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
+$35,239
Median income minus rent threshold.
Owner cushion
+$30,462
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 Winnebago County, the market is affordable. Expect to pay around $712/month in gross rent, with 25.0% of renter households considered cost-burdened.
Rent vs own
The median rent in Winnebago County is $712/month, while owner costs run $776/month. Renting saves approximately $64/month.
Income needed
To afford the median rent without exceeding 30% of gross income, a household needs to earn approximately $28,480/year. For owner costs at the 28% rule, the required income is roughly $33,257/year. With a median household income of $63,719, most households can comfortably afford rent here. Notably, 25.0% of renter households in Winnebago County are cost-burdened, spending more than 30% of income on housing.
Regional context
Winnebago County sits 7% less expensive than Clayton County ($764/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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crawford County, IA | $136,300 | $727/mo | Same-state comparison near $136,300 home value and $727/mo rent. |
| Floyd County, IA | $133,300 | $672/mo | Same-state comparison near $133,300 home value and $672/mo rent. |
| Howard County, IA | $133,900 | $699/mo | Same-state comparison near $133,900 home value and $699/mo rent. |
| Cherokee County, IA | $145,100 | $711/mo | Same-state comparison near $145,100 home value and $711/mo rent. |
| Cass County, IA | $133,300 | $769/mo | Same-state comparison near $133,300 home value and $769/mo rent. |
Data Confidence
- Crime coverage is partial, so safety comparisons need source context.
Next Checks
Housing Questions for Winnebago County
Is Winnebago County affordable for buying a home?
Is renting or owning cheaper in Winnebago County?
How much income do you need for housing in Winnebago County?
What should I double-check before moving to Winnebago County?
Data: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023) — Informational only. Not financial or legal advice.