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City · 16,044 residents · Warren County, Iowa

Indianola , Iowa

In Indianola, a typical home is worth $237,500 and typical rent is $986 a month. Compared with all of Warren County, typical household income is 20% lower, the typical home value is 12% lower, and the share of households that own their home is 12 points lower.

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  • Typical home value

    $237,500

    12% below the county

    14% above Iowa

    • Indianola
    • Warren
    • Iowa

  • Typical rent

    $986a month

    About the same as the county

    About the same as Iowa

    • Indianola
    • Warren
    • Iowa

  • Typical household income

    $75,453a year

    20% below the county

    About the same as Iowa

    • Indianola
    • Warren
    • Iowa

  • Households that own their home

    70%

    12 points below the county

    2 points below Iowa

    • Indianola
    • Warren
    • Iowa

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$313,138
2.1% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$1,034 a month

From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Indianola is in Warren 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 Warren County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Indianola apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. Nearby, in Des Moines, the typical home value is $194,700: 18% less than in Indianola ($237,500).

  2. 70% of households in Indianola own their home, against 82% in Warren County.

  3. The typical household income in Indianola is $75,453, 20% less than in Warren County as a whole ($94,588).

  4. Nearby, in Norwalk, the typical rent is $838: 15% less than in Indianola ($986).

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).

The homes here

Housing in Indianola

What homes there are in Indianola, 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

The detached house is still the most common home in Indianola, but it weighs less than in Warren County: 61% against 77%.

Year built

In Indianola, half of the homes were built before 1979; in Warren County, before 1985.

Homes in Indianola are smaller: 60% have 3 bedrooms or more; in Warren County, 73%.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes

With an FHA limit of $541,287, at least 98% of owner-occupied homes in Indianola sit below it: they are worth less than $500,000.

Monthly rent with utilities

By rent, most homes in Indianola cost less than HUD's 2-bedroom fair market rent ($1,360): about 73%.

With a mortgage

$1,692 a month

Warren County: $1,816 a month

Without a mortgage

$688 a month

Warren County: $718 a month

Owners with a mortgage

68%

Warren County: 65%

Owning costs less in Indianola: with a mortgage, the typical cost is $1,692 a month; in Warren County, $1,816. Without one, $688.

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

The typical home value in Indianola rose 45% since 2015–2019, about the same as in Warren County (44%).

Rents in Indianola rose faster than in Warren County: 26% since 2015–2019, against 21%.

While home values in Indianola changed +45% and rent +26%, the typical household income rose 24%.

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureIndianolaWarren CountyIowaUnited States
Rental vacancy Unreliable estimate9.7%5.7%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate0.8%0.9%
More than one person per room Unreliable estimate1.3%1.6%3.4%
People per household 2.382.552.362.53
Drive alone 73%76%76%69%
Carpool 6%5%8%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate1%3%
Walk or bike 6%3%3%3%
Work from home 14%15%11%15%
Other means Unreliable estimate1%1%2%
Typical commute Unreliable estimate20 to 29 minutes10 to 19 minutes20 to 29 minutes

On average, a household in Indianola has 2.38 people, fewer than in Warren County (2.55).

Many here get to work on foot or by bike: 6%, more than in Warren County (3%).

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month for a home in Indianola?

A typical home is tight for the typical income

We start with a typical home in Indianola, worth $237,500, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 33% of the typical household income in Indianola, which is $75,453 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $89,595 a year.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Warren County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Indianola. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $8,313 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$2,091

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$233,198
Total interest
$335,517
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $4,011 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,761 a month

  • Tight

    $1,761 to $2,264 a month

    Your payment · 33%

  • Hard

    more than $2,264 a month

Compared with the typical household income in Indianola ($75,453 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$2,091
Principal & interest$1,580
Property tax$307
Home insurance$99
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$105

You need at least $8,313 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

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.

The city and its county

Indianola and Warren County

Indianola is in Warren 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).

Indianola's own numbers

Typical home value
$237,500
Typical monthly rent
$986
Typical yearly household income
$75,453
Households that own their home
70%
Effective property tax rate
1.55%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of Warren County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,360
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+41%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
0.9%

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 Warren County.

Everything about Warren County

Buying

Buying a home in Indianola

A typical home in Indianola is worth $237,500: 12% below the county and 14% above Iowa. With the typical household income in Indianola ($75,453 a year), a typical home costs 3.1 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.

  • Indianola 3.1 years
  • Warren 2.9 years
  • Iowa 2.8 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Warren County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Warren County rose 68% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Warren County.

Period County Iowa U.S.
Last year (2025) +1.2% +3.2% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +41% +41% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +68% +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

Indianola next to Warren 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
  • Indianola $237,500
  • Warren $269,600
  • Iowa $208,000
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Indianola $986
  • Warren $973
  • Iowa $972
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Indianola $75,453
  • Warren $94,588
  • Iowa $75,059
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Indianola next to Warren County and Iowa
Measure Indianola Warren County Iowa U.S.
Typical home value $237,500 $269,600 $208,000 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $986 $973 $972 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $75,453 $94,588 $75,059 $80,734
Households that own their home 70% 82% 72% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $3,685 $3,865 $2,897 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 1.55% 1.43% 1.39% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 47% 42% 44% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Warren 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 Indianola

For a typical $237,500 home in Indianola, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Indianola's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $2,091a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $8,313
    Cash to close
    $15,438
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $105

  • Conventional, 5% down $2,047a month

    Down payment
    $11,875
    Cash to close
    $19,000
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $113

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $1,693a month

    Down payment
    $47,500
    Cash to close
    $54,625
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $1,912a month

    Down payment
    $35,625
    Cash to close
    $42,750
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

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.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for Indianola and for Warren County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Indianola

1.55%of the home’s value each year

$3,685 a year for the typical owner in Indianola.

  • Indianola 1.55%
  • Warren 1.43%
  • Iowa 1.39%

What Iowa publishes Homestead exemption: 10% of taxable value (Iowa Department of Revenue)

Exemptions and deadlines in Iowa

Flood risk in Warren County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of Warren County.

Homes in the high-risk zone
0.9%
197
Of those, with NFIP insurance
6.6%
County Iowa U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 0.9% 2.2% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 6.6% 14% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Indianola

Typical rent in Indianola is $986 a month: about the same as the county. In Indianola, 47% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Warren County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,360 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $26.15 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Warren County

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Yearly income
Studio $1,102 $21.19 $44,080
1 bedroom $1,145 $22.02 $45,800
2 bedrooms $1,360 $26.15 $54,400
3 bedrooms $1,856 $35.69 $74,240
4 bedrooms $1,901 $36.56 $76,040

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 Indianola

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Indianola is in ZIP code 50125.

For 2 bedrooms it is $1,180: $180 less than the fair market rent for Warren County ($1,360).

  • 50125 $1,180$1,610

1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Indianola 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 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Low-income apartments

Low-income apartments in Indianola

HUD lists 3 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Indianola. These are the largest.

  • Prairie Rose Senior Apartments 2010 W 4th Ave, Indianola 50125 81 low-income homes · For older adults (515) 961-6533
  • Meadow Village Apartments 801 S R St, Indianola 50125 72 homes, 70 low-income · For families (515) 961-6533
  • Park View Senior Village 810 S R St, Indianola 50125 60 low-income homes · For older adults (515) 961-6533

See all 7 buildings in Warren County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Indianola

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 Warren County. The nearest ones are below; many serve by phone or online.

A man listens closely, seated at a meeting table.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Indianola

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Indianola or Warren County. The ones below are statewide in Iowa: they work in Indianola the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in Iowa

Housing counselors near Indianola

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Indianola, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • Greater Des Moines Habitat for Humanity

    95 University Ave, Des Moines · 17 miles away

    • Pre-purchase counseling
    (515) 471-8686

  • Home Opportunities Made Easy, Inc. (home, Inc.)

    1618 6th Ave, Des Moines · 17 miles away · Spanish

    • Home improvement and repairs
    • Homelessness services
    • and 5 more
    (515) 243-1277

  • Family Management Financial Solutions, Inc.

    2310 Falls Ave Ste 4, Waterloo · 100 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 3 more
    (319) 234-6695

All counseling agencies in Iowa

Help in Spanish near Indianola

1 of the 3 agencies on this list says it serves in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Housing authorities of Indianola

HUD’s record names them for Indianola or Warren County. They run public housing or Section 8 vouchers. Ask whether their waiting list is open.

All housing agencies in Iowa Source: HUD

Cities

Other cities in Warren County

These cities are also in Warren County. They share its loan limits and fair market rents, but home values and rent change from one to the next.

Everything about Warren County Housing in Iowa

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Indianola, with the typical home value.

Neighboring counties

If Warren County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in Indianola.

All guides
A father smiles as he carries his baby on his shoulders outdoors.

Questions

Housing questions about Indianola

Short answers with the numbers for Indianola and all of Warren 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 Indianola?

The typical home value in Indianola is $237,500, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Warren County it is $269,600.

How much does it cost to rent in Indianola?

Typical rent in Indianola is $986 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Warren County is $1,360.

What is the FHA loan limit in Indianola?

Indianola uses the FHA limit for all of Warren 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 Indianola?

The typical homeowner in Indianola pays $3,685 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 1.55% of the home’s value; in Warren County, the rate is 1.43%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Indianola?

We found no HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Warren County; the nearest ones are on this page. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).