In Boone, a typical home is worth $173,000 and typical rent is $831 a month. Compared with all of Boone County, the typical home value is 19% lower, typical household income is 17% lower, and the share of households that own their home is 8 points lower.
Typical home value from Zillow, September 2021 to September 2026: from $170,541 to $211,774.
Typical rent
$814a month
Typical rent from Zillow, June 2026 to September 2026: from $813 to $814.
From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).
Boone is in Boone County. The FHA loan limit ($541,287 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Boone County. See the county
What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.
1
Nearby, in Perry, the typical home value is $121,400: 30% less than in Boone ($173,000).
2
The typical home in Boone is worth $173,000,19% less than in Boone County as a whole ($212,400).
3
The typical household income in Boone is $69,222,17% less than in Boone County as a whole ($83,531).
4
72% of households in Boone own their home, against 80% in Boone County.
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).
The homes here
Housing in Boone
What homes there are in Boone, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).
What homes there are
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
Kind of home
Detached houseAttached houseBuilding of 2 to 4Apartments (5 or more)Mobile homeBoat, RV and otherUnreliable estimate
Boone
Boone County
Iowa
United States
Kind of home: Boone and its comparisons
Measure
Boone
Boone County
Iowa
United States
Detached house
71%
80%
72%
61%
Attached house
4%
2%
5%
6%
Building of 2 to 4
7%
4%
6%
8%
Apartments (5 or more)
19%
12%
14%
19%
Mobile home
Unreliable estimate
2%
3%
6%
Boat, RV and other
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
0%
0%
Detached houses are the majority in Boone (71%), but less so than in Boone County (80%).
Year built
Before 19601960–19791980–19992000–20092010 or later
Boone
Boone County
Iowa
United States
Year built: Boone and its comparisons
Measure
Boone
Boone County
Iowa
United States
Before 1960
53%
50%
38%
26%
1960–1979
20%
19%
24%
24%
1980–1999
17%
16%
17%
25%
2000–2009
5%
8%
11%
14%
2010 or later
5%
7%
11%
11%
There are fewer big homes in Boone than in Boone County: 59% have 3 bedrooms or more, against 65%.
What it costs here
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
Value of owner-occupied homes
Under the limitOver the limitUnreliable estimate
Under $100K20%
$100K–$200K43%
$200K–$300K20%
$300K–$500K16%
$500K–$750KUnreliable
FHA limit: $541,287
$750K–$1MUnreliable
$1M or moreUnreliable
Value of owner-occupied homes: Boone and its comparisons
Measure
Boone
Under $100K
20%
$100K–$200K
43%
$200K–$300K
20%
$300K–$500K
16%
$500K–$750K
Unreliable estimate
$750K–$1M
Unreliable
$1M or more
Unreliable
With an FHA limit of $541,287, at least 99% of owner-occupied homes in Boone sit below it: they are worth less than $500,000.
Monthly rent with utilities
Unreliable estimate
Under $500Unreliable
$500–$99950%
$1,000–$1,49928%
$1,500–$1,999Unreliable
$2,000–$2,499Unreliable
$2,500–$2,999Unreliable
$3,000 or moreUnreliable
Monthly rent with utilities: Boone and its comparisons
Measure
Boone
Under $500
Unreliable estimate
$500–$999
50%
$1,000–$1,499
28%
$1,500–$1,999
Unreliable estimate
$2,000–$2,499
Unreliable
$2,500–$2,999
Unreliable
$3,000 or more
Unreliable estimate
With a mortgage
$1,393 a month
Boone County: $1,632 a month
Without a mortgage
$618 a month
Boone County: $697 a month
Owners with a mortgage
63%
Boone County: 63%
The typical cost for an owner with a mortgage in Boone is $1,393 a month, less than in Boone County ($1,632); without one, $618.
How it changed
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024
Change since 2015–2019
Typical home value
Boone+54%
Boone County+60%
Iowa+41%
United States+53%
Typical rent
BooneNo clear change
Boone County+14%
Iowa+23%
United States+33%
Typical household income
Boone+20%
Boone County+31%
Iowa+24%
United States+29%
Change since 2015–2019: Boone and its comparisons
Measure
Boone
Boone County
Iowa
United States
Typical home value
+54%
+60%
+41%
+53%
Typical rent
No clear change
+14%
+23%
+33%
Typical household income
+20%
+31%
+24%
+29%
The typical home value in Boone rose 54% since 2015–2019, less than in Boone County (60%).
Rent in Boone moved so little since 2015–2019 that the Census cannot say whether it rose or fell.
How people live
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
How people live: Boone and its comparisons
Measure
Boone
Boone County
Iowa
United States
Rental vacancy
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
5.7%
5.5%
Homeowner vacancy
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
0.8%
0.9%
More than one person per room
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
1.6%
3.4%
People per household
2.31
2.39
2.36
2.53
Drive alone
79%
79%
76%
69%
Carpool
9%
7%
8%
9%
Public transit
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
1%
3%
Walk or bike
Unreliable estimate
2%
3%
3%
Work from home
8%
10%
11%
15%
Other means
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
1%
2%
Typical commute
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
10 to 19 minutes
20 to 29 minutes
Much as in Boone County, a household in Boone has 2.31 people on average.
To get to work, 79% of workers in Boone drive alone; in Boone County, 79%.
Do the math
What would you pay each month for a home in Boone?
A typical home is within reach of the typical income
We start with a typical home in Boone, worth $173,000, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 27% of the typical household income in Boone, which is $69,222 a year.
The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Boone County.
Change the price, the down payment or the loan: the payment updates right away.
Your numbers
Local data
$
Starts at the typical home value in Boone. Change it to the price you have in mind.
Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.
Down payment
%
That is $6,055 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.
This week's average ± a quarter or half point.
National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.
Adjust advanced details⌄
Estimated monthly payment
Local data
$1,534
at 7.18% · 30 years
Loan amount
$169,867
Total interest
$244,398
Paid off in
November 2056
Includes $2,922 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.
Does it fit the income?
Comfortable
up to $1,615 a month
Your payment · 27%
Tight
$1,615 to $2,077 a month
Hard
more than $2,077 a month
Compared with the typical household income in Boone ($69,222 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.
Monthly payment breakdown
Principal & interest
$1,151
Property tax
$235
Home insurance
$72
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)
$77
You need at least $6,055 for the down payment, plus closing costs.
This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.
Total monthly payment $1,534; principal and interest $1,151.
The city and its county
Boone and Boone County
Boone is in Boone County, Iowa. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).
Boone
Map of Boone County, Iowa, with Boone marked. Around it, the neighboring counties.
Boone
Boone County
Other cities with a page
Boone's own numbers
Typical home value
$173,000
Typical monthly rent
$831
Typical yearly household income
$69,222
Households that own their home
72%
Effective property tax rate
1.63%
U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).
Numbers for all of Boone County
FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$967
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+43%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
2.7%
HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.
Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Boone County.
A typical home in Boone is worth $173,000: 19% below the county and 17% below Iowa. With the typical household income in Boone ($69,222 a year), a typical home costs 2.5 times what the household earns in a year.
Years of income to pay for a typical home
The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.
Boone2.5 years
County2.5 years
Iowa2.8 years
United States4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024
How prices have changed in Boone County
According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Boone County rose 76% in the 10 years through 2025.
FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Boone County.
Yearly change in FHFA’s price index in Boone County, 2016 to 2025
2016: +6.7% +6.7% 2016
2017: +4.3% +4.3% 2017
2018: +4.8% +4.8% 2018
2019: +3.7% +3.7% 2019
2020: +1.7% +1.7% 2020
2021: +9.1% +9.1% 2021
2022: +9.8% +9.8% 2022
2023: +8.1% +8.1% 2023
2024: +8.3% +8.3% 2024
2025: +1.9% +1.9% 2025
Change in FHFA’s price index in Boone County, Iowa and the United States
Period
County
Iowa
U.S.
Last year (2025)
+1.9%
+3.2%
+2.9%
5 years (2020–2025)
+43%
+41%
+47%
10 years (2015–2025)
+76%
+65%
+85%
The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data
Boone next to Boone County, Iowa and the U.S.
Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.
Typical home value
Boone$173,000
County$212,400
Iowa$208,000
United States$332,700
Typical monthly rent
Boone$831
County$845
Iowa$972
United States$1,413
Typical yearly household income
Boone$69,222
County$83,531
Iowa$75,059
United States$80,734
See the full table
Boone next to Boone County and Iowa
Measure
Boone
Boone County
Iowa
U.S.
Typical home value
$173,000 ▼19% below the county
$212,400
$208,000
$332,700
Typical monthly rent
$831
$845
$972
$1,413
Typical yearly household income
$69,222 ▼17% below the county
$83,531
$75,059
$80,734
Households that own their home
72% ▼8 points below the county
80%
72%
65%
Typical yearly property tax
$2,823 ▼3% below the county
$2,910
$2,897
$3,119
Effective property tax rate
1.63% ▲0.26 points above the county
1.37%
1.39%
0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income
42% ▲5 points above the county
38%
44%
51%
“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Boone County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.
Four ways to pay for a typical home in Boone
For a typical $173,000 home in Boone, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Boone's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.
FHA, 3.5% down$1,534a month
Least cash to close
Down payment
$6,055
Cash to close
$11,245
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
FHA MIP · $77
Conventional, 5% down$1,503a month
Down payment
$8,650
Cash to close
$13,840
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
PMI · $82
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI$1,245a month
Down payment
$34,600
Cash to close
$39,790
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
ITIN, 15% down (example)$1,405a month
Down payment
$25,950
Cash to close
$31,140
Rate
8.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
Four ways to pay for a typical home in Boone
Loan
Monthly payment
Down payment
Loan amount
Rate
Mortgage insurance
Cash to close
Minimum score
FHA, 3.5% down Least cash to close
$1,534
$6,055
$169,867
7.18%
FHA MIP · $77
$11,245
580
Conventional, 5% down
$1,503
$8,650
$164,350
7.18%
PMI · $82
$13,840
620*
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI
$1,245
$34,600
$138,400
7.18%
None
$39,790
620*
ITIN, 15% down (example)
$1,405
$25,950
$147,050
8.18%
None
$31,140
Set by the lender
The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.
Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.
Typical rent in Boone is $831 a month: about the same as the county. In Boone, 42% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.
HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Boone County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($967 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $18.60 an hour working full time.
What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.
HUD fair market rent in Boone County (Fiscal year 2027)
Size
Fair rent a month
Hourly wage
Yearly income
Studio
$763
$14.67
$30,520
1 bedroom
$768
$14.77
$30,720
2 bedrooms
$967
$18.60
$38,680
3 bedrooms
$1,339
$25.75
$53,560
4 bedrooms
$1,453
$27.94
$58,120
Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027
By ZIP code
Fair market rent by ZIP code in Boone
HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Boone is in ZIP code 50036.
For 2 bedrooms it is $970: $3 more than the fair market rent for Boone County ($967).
Fair market rent by ZIP code and size in Boone, fiscal year 2027.
ZIP code
Studio
1 bd
2 bd
3 bd
4 bd
50036
$770
$770
$970
$1,340
$1,460
ZIP code2 bd3 bd
50036 $970$1,340
1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Boone when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD)Fiscal year 2027Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (external site)Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship fileData from 2020 dataCensus Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (external site)
HUD lists 7 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Boone. These are the largest.
Cirha Public Housing605 Greene St, Boone 50036132 low-income homes · Run by Central Iowa Regional Housing Authority · Average payment: $403 a month · Average wait: 15 months · Homes at several sites(515) 986-1882
Boone Sundance Apts1305 S Linn St, Boone 5003640 low-income homes · 2 bd: 32 · 3 bd: 8 · In service since 1999 · For families
You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.
We found no HUD-approved agencies with an office in Boone County. The nearest ones are below; many serve by phone or online.
No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Boone or Boone County. The ones below are statewide in Iowa: they work in Boone the same as in the rest of the state.
With the Iowa state authority's FirstHome mortgage, a first-time buyer can get a second loan of up to 3% of the price (maximum $10,000) or up to 5% (maximum $15,000), with no monthly payments, repaid when you sell, refinance or pay off the mortgage.Offered by Iowa Finance Authority (IFA).
Iowa state authority second loan, with the Homes for Iowans mortgage, of up to 3% of the price (maximum $10,000) or 5% (maximum $15,000) for the down payment and closing costs; no monthly payments, and for any buyer.Offered by Iowa Finance Authority (IFA).
No legal help resource on our list is for Boone or Boone County in particular.
If you have a problem with your landlord, an eviction notice or a scam, the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) search shows the free legal aid offices that serve your area.
Short answers with the numbers for Boone and all of Boone County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.
How much does a typical home cost in Boone?
The typical home value in Boone is $173,000, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Boone County it is $212,400.
How much does it cost to rent in Boone?
Typical rent in Boone is $831 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Boone County is $967.
What is the FHA loan limit in Boone?
Boone uses the FHA limit for all of Boone County (2026): $541,287 for a one-unit home and $1,041,125 for a four-unit home.
How much property tax do owners pay in Boone?
The typical homeowner in Boone pays $2,823 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 1.63% of the home’s value; in Boone County, the rate is 1.37%.
Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Boone?
We found no HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Boone County; the nearest ones are on this page. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.
