In Winterset, a typical home is worth $192,500 and typical rent is $1,095 a month. Compared with all of Madison County, typical household income is 25% lower, the typical home value is 21% lower, and the share of households that own their home is 15 points lower.
Typical home value from Zillow, September 2021 to September 2026: from $237,524 to $289,777.
From Zillow (ZHVI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).
Winterset is in Madison 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 Madison County. See the county
What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.
1
65% of households in Winterset own their home, against 80% in Madison County.
2
Nearby, in Norwalk, the typical rent is $838: 23% less than in Winterset ($1,095).
3
The typical household income in Winterset is $67,708,25% less than in Madison County as a whole ($90,855).
4
The typical home in Winterset is worth $192,500,21% less than in Madison County as a whole ($245,100).
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).
The homes here
Housing in Winterset
What homes there are in Winterset, 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
Winterset
Madison County
Iowa
United States
Kind of home: Winterset and its comparisons
Measure
Winterset
Madison County
Iowa
United States
Detached house
70%
82%
72%
61%
Attached house
Unreliable estimate
3%
5%
6%
Building of 2 to 4
12%
6%
6%
8%
Apartments (5 or more)
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
14%
19%
Mobile home
Unreliable estimate
5%
3%
6%
Boat, RV and other
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
0%
0%
The detached house is still the most common home in Winterset, but it weighs less than in Madison County: 70% against 82%.
Year built
Before 19601960–19791980–19992000–20092010 or later
Winterset
Madison County
Iowa
United States
Year built: Winterset and its comparisons
Measure
Winterset
Madison County
Iowa
United States
Before 1960
38%
34%
38%
26%
1960–1979
26%
21%
24%
24%
1980–1999
15%
17%
17%
25%
2000–2009
12%
17%
11%
14%
2010 or later
9%
12%
11%
11%
The typical home in Winterset was built in 1973, 4 years before the typical one in Madison County.
What it costs here
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
Value of owner-occupied homes
Unreliable estimate
Under $100KUnreliable
$100K–$200K50%
$200K–$300K33%
$300K–$500KUnreliable
$500K–$750KUnreliable
$750K–$1MUnreliable
$1M or moreUnreliable
Value of owner-occupied homes: Winterset and its comparisons
Measure
Winterset
Under $100K
Unreliable estimate
$100K–$200K
50%
$200K–$300K
33%
$300K–$500K
Unreliable estimate
$500K–$750K
Unreliable estimate
$750K–$1M
Unreliable
$1M or more
Unreliable
Monthly rent with utilities
Unreliable estimate
Under $500Unreliable
$500–$99938%
$1,000–$1,49937%
$1,500–$1,999Unreliable
$2,000–$2,499Unreliable
$2,500–$2,999Unreliable
$3,000 or moreUnreliable
Monthly rent with utilities: Winterset and its comparisons
Measure
Winterset
Under $500
Unreliable estimate
$500–$999
38%
$1,000–$1,499
37%
$1,500–$1,999
Unreliable estimate
$2,000–$2,499
Unreliable estimate
$2,500–$2,999
Unreliable
$3,000 or more
Unreliable estimate
With a mortgage
$1,467 a month
Madison County: $1,742 a month
Without a mortgage
$612 a month
Madison County: $701 a month
Owners with a mortgage
58%
Madison County: 63%
In Winterset, 58% of owners have a mortgage, and their typical cost is $1,467 a month, against $1,742 in Madison County. Without one it drops to $612.
How it changed
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024
Change since 2015–2019
Typical home value
Winterset+22%
Madison County+38%
Iowa+41%
United States+53%
Typical rent
Winterset+48%
Madison County+31%
Iowa+23%
United States+33%
Typical household income
WintersetNo clear change
Madison County+37%
Iowa+24%
United States+29%
Change since 2015–2019: Winterset and its comparisons
Measure
Winterset
Madison County
Iowa
United States
Typical home value
+22%
+38%
+41%
+53%
Typical rent
+48%
+31%
+23%
+33%
Typical household income
No clear change
+37%
+24%
+29%
From 2015–2019 to 2020–2024, the typical home value in Winterset rose 22%; in Madison County, it rose 38%.
Rents in Winterset rose faster than in Madison County: 48% since 2015–2019, against 31%.
How people live
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
How people live: Winterset and its comparisons
Measure
Winterset
Madison 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
2.20
2.50
2.36
2.53
Drive alone
77%
73%
76%
69%
Carpool
Unreliable estimate
7%
8%
9%
Public transit
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
1%
3%
Walk or bike
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
3%
3%
Work from home
14%
17%
11%
15%
Other means
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
1%
2%
Typical commute
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
10 to 19 minutes
20 to 29 minutes
On average, a household in Winterset has 2.20 people, fewer than in Madison County (2.50).
To get to work, 77% of workers in Winterset drive alone; in Madison County, 73%.
Do the math
What would you pay each month for a home in Winterset?
A typical home is tight for the typical income
We start with a typical home in Winterset, worth $192,500, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 31% of the typical household income in Winterset, which is $67,708 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $74,338 a year.
The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Madison 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 Winterset. 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 $6,738 (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
$1,735
at 7.18% · 30 years
Loan amount
$189,013
Total interest
$271,945
Paid off in
November 2056
Includes $3,251 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.
Does it fit the income?
Comfortable
up to $1,580 a month
Tight
$1,580 to $2,031 a month
Your payment · 31%
Hard
more than $2,031 a month
Compared with the typical household income in Winterset ($67,708 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.
Monthly payment breakdown
Principal & interest
$1,280
Property tax
$289
Home insurance
$80
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)
$85
You need at least $6,738 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 $1,735; principal and interest $1,280.
The city and its county
Winterset and Madison County
Winterset is in Madison 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).
Winterset
Map of Madison County, Iowa, with Winterset marked. Around it, the neighboring counties.
Winterset
Madison County
Other cities with a page
Winterset's own numbers
Typical home value
$192,500
Typical monthly rent
$1,095
Typical yearly household income
$67,708
Households that own their home
65%
Effective property tax rate
1.8%
U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).
Numbers for all of Madison 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)
+45%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
0.6%
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 Madison County.
A typical home in Winterset is worth $192,500: 21% below the county and 7% below Iowa. With the typical household income in Winterset ($67,708 a year), a typical home costs 2.8 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.
Winterset2.8 years
Madison2.7 years
Iowa2.8 years
United States4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024
How prices have changed in Madison County
According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Madison County rose 74% in the 10 years through 2025.
FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Madison County.
Yearly change in FHFA’s price index in Madison County, 2016 to 2025
2016: +2.0% +2.0% 2016
2017: +7.7% +7.7% 2017
2018: +5.0% +5.0% 2018
2019: +4.4% +4.4% 2019
2020: −0.2% −0.2% 2020
2021: +7.4% +7.4% 2021
2022: +18.6% +18.6% 2022
2023: +5.4% +5.4% 2023
2024: +7.6% +7.6% 2024
2025: +0.4% +0.4% 2025
Change in FHFA’s price index in Madison County, Iowa and the United States
Period
County
Iowa
U.S.
Last year (2025)
+0.4%
+3.2%
+2.9%
5 years (2020–2025)
+45%
+41%
+47%
10 years (2015–2025)
+74%
+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
Winterset next to Madison 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
Winterset$192,500
Madison$245,100
Iowa$208,000
United States$332,700
Typical monthly rent
Winterset$1,095
Madison$1,036
Iowa$972
United States$1,413
Typical yearly household income
Winterset$67,708
Madison$90,855
Iowa$75,059
United States$80,734
See the full table
Winterset next to Madison County and Iowa
Measure
Winterset
Madison County
Iowa
U.S.
Typical home value
$192,500 ▼21% below the county
$245,100
$208,000
$332,700
Typical monthly rent
$1,095 ▲6% above the county
$1,036
$972
$1,413
Typical yearly household income
$67,708 ▼25% below the county
$90,855
$75,059
$80,734
Households that own their home
65% ▼15 points below the county
80%
72%
65%
Typical yearly property tax
$3,457 ▼5% below the county
$3,624
$2,897
$3,119
Effective property tax rate
1.8% ▲0.32 points above the county
1.48%
1.39%
0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income
47% ▲10 points above the county
36%
44%
51%
“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Madison 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 Winterset
For a typical $192,500 home in Winterset, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Winterset's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.
FHA, 3.5% down$1,735a month
Least cash to close
Down payment
$6,738
Cash to close
$12,513
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
FHA MIP · $85
Conventional, 5% down$1,699a month
Down payment
$9,625
Cash to close
$15,400
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
PMI · $91
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI$1,412a month
Down payment
$38,500
Cash to close
$44,275
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
ITIN, 15% down (example)$1,590a month
Down payment
$28,875
Cash to close
$34,650
Rate
8.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
Four ways to pay for a typical home in Winterset
Loan
Monthly payment
Down payment
Loan amount
Rate
Mortgage insurance
Cash to close
Minimum score
FHA, 3.5% down Least cash to close
$1,735
$6,738
$189,013
7.18%
FHA MIP · $85
$12,513
580
Conventional, 5% down
$1,699
$9,625
$182,875
7.18%
PMI · $91
$15,400
620*
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI
$1,412
$38,500
$154,000
7.18%
None
$44,275
620*
ITIN, 15% down (example)
$1,590
$28,875
$163,625
8.18%
None
$34,650
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 Winterset is $1,095 a month: 6% above the county. In Winterset, 47% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.
HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Madison 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.
What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.
HUD fair market rent in Madison County (Fiscal year 2027)
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 Winterset
HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Winterset is in ZIP code 50273.
For 2 bedrooms it is $1,240: $120 less than the fair market rent for Madison County ($1,360).
Fair market rent by ZIP code and size in Winterset, fiscal year 2027.
ZIP code
Studio
1 bd
2 bd
3 bd
4 bd
50273
$1,000
$1,040
$1,240
$1,690
$1,730
ZIP code2 bd3 bd
50273 $1,240$1,690
1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Winterset 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 3 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Winterset. These are the largest.
RD Preservation II426 428 W Mills ST, Winterset 5027372 low-income homes · 1 bd: 24 · 2 bd: 40 · 3 bd: 8 · In service since 2010 · For families
Northward Plaza415 N 2nd St, Winterset 5027346 low-income homes · Run by Low Rent Housing Agency Of Winterset · Average payment: $429 a month(515) 462-4340
Candleridge Apts of Winterset1111 N 8th Ave, Winterset 5027324 low-income homes · 1 bd: 24 · In service since 2000 · For older adults
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 Madison 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 Winterset or Madison County. The ones below are statewide in Iowa: they work in Winterset 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 Winterset or Madison 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 Winterset and all of Madison 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 Winterset?
The typical home value in Winterset is $192,500, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Madison County it is $245,100.
How much does it cost to rent in Winterset?
Typical rent in Winterset is $1,095 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Madison County is $1,360.
What is the FHA loan limit in Winterset?
Winterset uses the FHA limit for all of Madison 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 Winterset?
The typical homeowner in Winterset pays $3,457 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 1.8% of the home’s value; in Madison County, the rate is 1.48%.
Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Winterset?
We found no HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Madison County; the nearest ones are on this page. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.
