In Denison, a typical home is worth $150,200 and typical rent is $731 a month. Home values, rent and income are very close to those of all of Crawford County.
Typical home value from Zillow, September 2021 to September 2026: from $142,798 to $178,892.
From Zillow (ZHVI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).
Denison is in Crawford 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 Crawford County. See the county
What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.
1
Denison has the 5th lowest typical rent of the 85 cities in Iowa with more than 5,000 people ($731).
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).
The homes here
Housing in Denison
What homes there are in Denison, 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
Denison
Crawford County
Iowa
United States
Kind of home: Denison and its comparisons
Measure
Denison
Crawford County
Iowa
United States
Detached house
65%
78%
72%
61%
Attached house
Unreliable estimate
5%
5%
6%
Building of 2 to 4
12%
7%
6%
8%
Apartments (5 or more)
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
14%
19%
Mobile home
Unreliable estimate
4%
3%
6%
Boat, RV and other
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
0%
0%
In Denison, 7 in 10 homes are single-family detached houses; in Crawford County, 8.
Year built
Before 19601960–19791980–19992000–20092010 or laterUnreliable estimate
Denison
Crawford County
Iowa
United States
Year built: Denison and its comparisons
Measure
Denison
Crawford County
Iowa
United States
Before 1960
26%
42%
38%
26%
1960–1979
42%
34%
24%
24%
1980–1999
22%
15%
17%
25%
2000–2009
Unreliable estimate
5%
11%
14%
2010 or later
Unreliable estimate
5%
11%
11%
Homes in Denison are newer: the typical year built is 1974; in Crawford County, 1968.
What it costs here
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
Value of owner-occupied homes
Unreliable estimate
Under $100K30%
$100K–$200K40%
$200K–$300K15%
$300K–$500KUnreliable
$500K–$750KUnreliable
$750K–$1MUnreliable
$1M or moreUnreliable
Value of owner-occupied homes: Denison and its comparisons
Measure
Denison
Under $100K
30%
$100K–$200K
40%
$200K–$300K
15%
$300K–$500K
Unreliable estimate
$500K–$750K
Unreliable estimate
$750K–$1M
Unreliable estimate
$1M or more
Unreliable
Monthly rent with utilities
Unreliable estimate
Under $500Unreliable
$500–$99978%
$1,000–$1,499Unreliable
$1,500–$1,999Unreliable
$2,000–$2,499Unreliable
$2,500–$2,999Unreliable
$3,000 or moreUnreliable
Monthly rent with utilities: Denison and its comparisons
Measure
Denison
Under $500
Unreliable estimate
$500–$999
78%
$1,000–$1,499
Unreliable estimate
$1,500–$1,999
Unreliable
$2,000–$2,499
Unreliable
$2,500–$2,999
Unreliable
$3,000 or more
Unreliable
With a mortgage
$1,226 a month
Crawford County: $1,275 a month
Without a mortgage
$521 a month
Crawford County: $528 a month
Owners with a mortgage
47%
Crawford County: 47%
Owning costs about the same in Denison as in Crawford County: with a mortgage, $1,226 a month; without one, $521.
How it changed
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024
Change since 2015–2019
Typical home value
Denison+61%
Crawford County+65%
Iowa+41%
United States+53%
Typical rent
DenisonNo clear change
Crawford County+18%
Iowa+23%
United States+33%
Typical household income
DenisonNo clear change
Crawford County+20%
Iowa+24%
United States+29%
Change since 2015–2019: Denison and its comparisons
Measure
Denison
Crawford County
Iowa
United States
Typical home value
+61%
+65%
+41%
+53%
Typical rent
No clear change
+18%
+23%
+33%
Typical household income
No clear change
+20%
+24%
+29%
The typical home value in Denison rose 61% since 2015–2019, less than in Crawford County (65%).
Since 2015–2019, the typical rent in Denison did not change clearly, according to the Census.
How people live
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
How people live: Denison and its comparisons
Measure
Denison
Crawford 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
2.54
2.50
2.36
2.53
Drive alone
70%
77%
76%
69%
Carpool
18%
11%
8%
9%
Public transit
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
1%
3%
Walk or bike
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
3%
3%
Work from home
Unreliable estimate
6%
11%
15%
Other means
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
1%
2%
Typical commute
Unreliable estimate
10 to 19 minutes
10 to 19 minutes
20 to 29 minutes
A household in Denison has 2.54 people on average, about the same as in Crawford County (2.50).
More people carpool to work in Denison than in Crawford County: 18% against 11%.
Do the math
What would you pay each month for a home in Denison?
A typical home is within reach of the typical income
We start with a typical home in Denison, worth $150,200, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 24% of the typical household income in Denison, which is $65,684 a year.
The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Crawford 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 Denison. 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 $5,257 (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
$1,338
at 7.18% · 30 years
Loan amount
$147,480
Total interest
$212,188
Paid off in
November 2056
Includes $2,537 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.
Does it fit the income?
Comfortable
up to $1,533 a month
Your payment · 24%
Tight
$1,533 to $1,971 a month
Hard
more than $1,971 a month
Compared with the typical household income in Denison ($65,684 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.
Monthly payment breakdown
Principal & interest
$999
Property tax
$210
Home insurance
$63
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)
$66
You need at least $5,257 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 $1,338; principal and interest $999.
The city and its county
Denison and Crawford County
Denison is in Crawford 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).
Denison
Map of Crawford County, Iowa, with Denison marked. Around it, the neighboring counties.
Denison
Crawford County
Denison's own numbers
Typical home value
$150,200
Typical monthly rent
$731
Typical yearly household income
$65,684
Households that own their home
71%
Effective property tax rate
1.68%
U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).
Numbers for all of Crawford County
FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$927
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+53%
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 Crawford County.
A typical home in Denison is worth $150,200: 2% below the county and 28% below Iowa. With the typical household income in Denison ($65,684 a year), a typical home costs 2.3 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.
Denison2.3 years
Crawford2.3 years
Iowa2.8 years
United States4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024
How prices have changed in Crawford County
According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Crawford County rose 60% in the 10 years through 2025.
FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Crawford County.
Yearly change in FHFA’s price index in Crawford County, 2016 to 2025
2016: −5.6% −5.6% 2016
2017: +4.9% +4.9% 2017
2018: +4.1% +4.1% 2018
2019: +0.1% +0.1% 2019
2020: +1.6% +1.6% 2020
2021: +7.8% +7.8% 2021
2022: +17.2% +17.2% 2022
2023: +13.2% +13.2% 2023
2024: −3.9% −3.9% 2024
2025: +11.2% +11.2% 2025
Change in FHFA’s price index in Crawford County, Iowa and the United States
Period
County
Iowa
U.S.
Last year (2025)
+11.2%
+3.2%
+2.9%
5 years (2020–2025)
+53%
+41%
+47%
10 years (2015–2025)
+60%
+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
Denison next to Crawford 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
Denison$150,200
Crawford$153,700
Iowa$208,000
United States$332,700
Typical monthly rent
Denison$731
Crawford$743
Iowa$972
United States$1,413
Typical yearly household income
Denison$65,684
Crawford$67,027
Iowa$75,059
United States$80,734
See the full table
Denison next to Crawford County and Iowa
Measure
Denison
Crawford County
Iowa
U.S.
Typical home value
$150,200 ▼2% below the county
$153,700
$208,000
$332,700
Typical monthly rent
$731
$743
$972
$1,413
Typical yearly household income
$65,684 ▼2% below the county
$67,027
$75,059
$80,734
Households that own their home
71% ▼5 points below the county
76%
72%
65%
Typical yearly property tax
$2,527 ▲28% above the county
$1,973
$2,897
$3,119
Effective property tax rate
1.68% ▲0.4 points above the county
1.28%
1.39%
0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income
38% ▲4 points above the county
34%
44%
51%
“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Crawford 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 Denison
For a typical $150,200 home in Denison, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Denison's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.
FHA, 3.5% down$1,338a month
Least cash to close
Down payment
$5,257
Cash to close
$9,763
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
FHA MIP · $66
Conventional, 5% down$1,311a month
Down payment
$7,510
Cash to close
$12,016
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
PMI · $71
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI$1,087a month
Down payment
$30,040
Cash to close
$34,546
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
ITIN, 15% down (example)$1,226a month
Down payment
$22,530
Cash to close
$27,036
Rate
8.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
Four ways to pay for a typical home in Denison
Loan
Monthly payment
Down payment
Loan amount
Rate
Mortgage insurance
Cash to close
Minimum score
FHA, 3.5% down Least cash to close
$1,338
$5,257
$147,480
7.18%
FHA MIP · $66
$9,763
580
Conventional, 5% down
$1,311
$7,510
$142,690
7.18%
PMI · $71
$12,016
620*
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI
$1,087
$30,040
$120,160
7.18%
None
$34,546
620*
ITIN, 15% down (example)
$1,226
$22,530
$127,670
8.18%
None
$27,036
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 Denison is $731 a month: about the same as the county. In Denison, 38% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.
HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Crawford County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($927 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $17.83 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 Crawford County (Fiscal year 2027)
Size
Fair rent a month
Hourly wage
Yearly income
Studio
$688
$13.23
$27,520
1 bedroom
$783
$15.06
$31,320
2 bedrooms
$927
$17.83
$37,080
3 bedrooms
$1,282
$24.65
$51,280
4 bedrooms
$1,320
$25.38
$52,800
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 Denison
HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Denison is in ZIP code 51442.
For 2 bedrooms it is $960: $33 more than the fair market rent for Crawford County ($927).
Fair market rent by ZIP code and size in Denison, fiscal year 2027.
ZIP code
Studio
1 bd
2 bd
3 bd
4 bd
51442
$710
$810
$960
$1,330
$1,370
ZIP code2 bd3 bd
51442 $960$1,330
1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Denison 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)
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 Crawford 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 Denison or Crawford County. The ones below are statewide in Iowa: they work in Denison 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 Denison or Crawford 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 Denison and all of Crawford 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 Denison?
The typical home value in Denison is $150,200, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Crawford County it is $153,700.
How much does it cost to rent in Denison?
Typical rent in Denison is $731 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Crawford County is $927.
What is the FHA loan limit in Denison?
Denison uses the FHA limit for all of Crawford 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 Denison?
The typical homeowner in Denison pays $2,527 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 1.68% of the home’s value; in Crawford County, the rate is 1.28%.
Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Denison?
We found no HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Crawford County; the nearest ones are on this page. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.
