City · 5,251 residents · Houston County, Minnesota
La Crescent, Minnesota
In La Crescent, a typical home is worth $272,400 and typical rent is $889 a month. Compared with all of Houston County, the typical home value is 14% higher and typical household income is 7% higher.
Typical home value from Zillow, September 2021 to September 2026: from $271,800 to $358,752.
From Zillow (ZHVI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).
La Crescent is in Houston 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 Houston County. See the county
What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.
1
Nearby, in Winona, the typical home value is $201,800: 26% less than in La Crescent ($272,400).
2
La Crescent has the 10th largest share of rent-burdened renters of the 139 cities in Minnesota with more than 5,000 people (63%).
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).
The homes here
Housing in La Crescent
What homes there are in La Crescent, 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
La Crescent
Houston County
Minnesota
United States
Kind of home: La Crescent and its comparisons
Measure
La Crescent
Houston County
Minnesota
United States
Detached house
78%
86%
66%
61%
Attached house
Unreliable estimate
2%
7%
6%
Building of 2 to 4
Unreliable estimate
2%
4%
8%
Apartments (5 or more)
Unreliable estimate
7%
19%
19%
Mobile home
Unreliable estimate
3%
3%
6%
Boat, RV and other
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
0%
0%
In La Crescent, 8 in 10 homes are single-family detached houses; in Houston County, 9.
Year built
Before 19601960–19791980–19992000–20092010 or laterUnreliable estimate
La Crescent
Houston County
Minnesota
United States
Year built: La Crescent and its comparisons
Measure
La Crescent
Houston County
Minnesota
United States
Before 1960
28%
40%
29%
26%
1960–1979
29%
22%
23%
24%
1980–1999
29%
23%
24%
25%
2000–2009
Unreliable estimate
9%
13%
14%
2010 or later
Unreliable estimate
6%
10%
11%
The typical home in La Crescent was built in 1976, 4 years after the typical one in Houston County.
What it costs here
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
Value of owner-occupied homes
Unreliable estimate
Under $100KUnreliable
$100K–$200K17%
$200K–$300K33%
$300K–$500K29%
$500K–$750KUnreliable
$750K–$1MUnreliable
$1M or moreUnreliable
Value of owner-occupied homes: La Crescent and its comparisons
Measure
La Crescent
Under $100K
Unreliable estimate
$100K–$200K
17%
$200K–$300K
33%
$300K–$500K
29%
$500K–$750K
Unreliable estimate
$750K–$1M
Unreliable
$1M or more
Unreliable estimate
Monthly rent with utilities
Unreliable estimate
Under $500Unreliable
$500–$999Unreliable
$1,000–$1,499Unreliable
$1,500–$1,999Unreliable
$2,000–$2,499Unreliable
$2,500–$2,999Unreliable
$3,000 or moreUnreliable
Monthly rent with utilities: La Crescent and its comparisons
Measure
La Crescent
Under $500
Unreliable estimate
$500–$999
Unreliable estimate
$1,000–$1,499
Unreliable estimate
$1,500–$1,999
Unreliable estimate
$2,000–$2,499
Unreliable
$2,500–$2,999
Unreliable estimate
$3,000 or more
Unreliable
With a mortgage
$1,828 a month
Houston County: $1,697 a month
Without a mortgage
$642 a month
Houston County: $624 a month
Owners with a mortgage
52%
Houston County: 52%
Owning costs more in La Crescent: with a mortgage, the typical cost is $1,828 a month; in Houston County, $1,697. Without one, $642.
How it changed
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024
Change since 2015–2019
Typical home value
La Crescent+48%
Houston County+38%
Minnesota+47%
United States+53%
Typical rent
La CrescentNo clear change
Houston County+22%
Minnesota+31%
United States+33%
Typical household income
La CrescentNo clear change
Houston County+32%
Minnesota+25%
United States+29%
Change since 2015–2019: La Crescent and its comparisons
Measure
La Crescent
Houston County
Minnesota
United States
Typical home value
+48%
+38%
+47%
+53%
Typical rent
No clear change
+22%
+31%
+33%
Typical household income
No clear change
+32%
+25%
+29%
From 2015–2019 to 2020–2024, the typical home value in La Crescent rose 48%; in Houston County, it rose 38%.
Since 2015–2019, the typical rent in La Crescent did not change clearly, according to the Census.
How people live
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
How people live: La Crescent and its comparisons
Measure
La Crescent
Houston County
Minnesota
United States
Rental vacancy
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
5.3%
5.5%
Homeowner vacancy
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
0.6%
0.9%
More than one person per room
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
2.3%
3.4%
People per household
2.26
2.26
2.43
2.53
Drive alone
81%
75%
69%
69%
Carpool
Unreliable estimate
7%
8%
9%
Public transit
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
2%
3%
Walk or bike
Unreliable estimate
2%
3%
3%
Work from home
15%
14%
18%
15%
Other means
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
1%
2%
Typical commute
10 to 19 minutes
Unreliable estimate
20 to 29 minutes
20 to 29 minutes
Much as in Houston County, a household in La Crescent has 2.26 people on average.
The car rules in La Crescent: 81% of workers drive to work alone, and the typical trip takes 10 to 19 minutes.
Do the math
What would you pay each month for a home in La Crescent?
A typical home is tight for the typical income
We start with a typical home in La Crescent, worth $272,400, 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 La Crescent, which is $85,368 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $100,912 a year.
The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Houston 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 La Crescent. 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 $9,534 (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
$2,355
at 7.18% · 30 years
Loan amount
$267,466
Total interest
$384,821
Paid off in
November 2056
Includes $4,600 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.
Does it fit the income?
Comfortable
up to $1,992 a month
Tight
$1,992 to $2,561 a month
Your payment · 33%
Hard
more than $2,561 a month
Compared with the typical household income in La Crescent ($85,368 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.
Monthly payment breakdown
Principal & interest
$1,812
Property tax
$309
Home insurance
$114
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)
$120
You need at least $9,534 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 $2,355; principal and interest $1,812.
The city and its county
La Crescent and Houston County
La Crescent is in Houston County, Minnesota. 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).
La Crescent
Map of Houston County, Minnesota, with La Crescent marked. Around it, the neighboring counties.
La Crescent
Houston County
La Crescent's own numbers
Typical home value
$272,400
Typical monthly rent
$889
Typical yearly household income
$85,368
Households that own their home
86%
Effective property tax rate
1.36%
U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).
Numbers for all of Houston County
FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,343
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+53%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
2.5%
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 Houston County.
A typical home in La Crescent is worth $272,400: 14% above the county and 17% below Minnesota. With the typical household income in La Crescent ($85,368 a year), a typical home costs 3.2 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.
La Crescent3.2 years
Houston3.0 years
Minnesota3.7 years
United States4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024
How prices have changed in Houston County
According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Houston County rose 83% in the 10 years through 2025.
FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Houston County.
Yearly change in FHFA’s price index in Houston County, 2016 to 2025
2016: +2.4% +2.4% 2016
2017: +6.5% +6.5% 2017
2018: +2.7% +2.7% 2018
2019: +4.2% +4.2% 2019
2020: +2.5% +2.5% 2020
2021: +9.1% +9.1% 2021
2022: +12.3% +12.3% 2022
2023: +10.8% +10.8% 2023
2024: +9.6% +9.6% 2024
2025: +2.8% +2.8% 2025
Change in FHFA’s price index in Houston County, Minnesota and the United States
Period
County
Minnesota
U.S.
Last year (2025)
+2.8%
+2.8%
+2.9%
5 years (2020–2025)
+53%
+37%
+47%
10 years (2015–2025)
+83%
+71%
+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
La Crescent next to Houston County, Minnesota and the U.S.
Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.
Typical home value
La Crescent$272,400
Houston$239,000
Minnesota$329,300
United States$332,700
Typical monthly rent
La Crescent$889
Houston$879
Minnesota$1,280
United States$1,413
Typical yearly household income
La Crescent$85,368
Houston$79,825
Minnesota$89,062
United States$80,734
See the full table
La Crescent next to Houston County and Minnesota
Measure
La Crescent
Houston County
Minnesota
U.S.
Typical home value
$272,400 ▲14% above the county
$239,000
$329,300
$332,700
Typical monthly rent
$889
$879
$1,280
$1,413
Typical yearly household income
$85,368 ▲7% above the county
$79,825
$89,062
$80,734
Households that own their home
86% ▲3 points above the county
83%
72%
65%
Typical yearly property tax
$3,704 ▲34% above the county
$2,756
$3,357
$3,119
Effective property tax rate
1.36% ▲0.21 points above the county
1.15%
1.02%
0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income
63% ▲15 points above the county
49%
48%
51%
“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Houston 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 La Crescent
For a typical $272,400 home in La Crescent, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, La Crescent's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.
FHA, 3.5% down$2,355a month
Least cash to close
Down payment
$9,534
Cash to close
$17,706
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
FHA MIP · $120
Conventional, 5% down$2,305a month
Down payment
$13,620
Cash to close
$21,792
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
PMI · $129
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI$1,898a month
Down payment
$54,480
Cash to close
$62,652
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
ITIN, 15% down (example)$2,150a month
Down payment
$40,860
Cash to close
$49,032
Rate
8.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
Four ways to pay for a typical home in La Crescent
Loan
Monthly payment
Down payment
Loan amount
Rate
Mortgage insurance
Cash to close
Minimum score
FHA, 3.5% down Least cash to close
$2,355
$9,534
$267,466
7.18%
FHA MIP · $120
$17,706
580
Conventional, 5% down
$2,305
$13,620
$258,780
7.18%
PMI · $129
$21,792
620*
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI
$1,898
$54,480
$217,920
7.18%
None
$62,652
620*
ITIN, 15% down (example)
$2,150
$40,860
$231,540
8.18%
None
$49,032
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 La Crescent is $889 a month: about the same as the county. In La Crescent, 63% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.
HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Houston County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,343 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $25.83 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 Houston County (Fiscal year 2027)
Size
Fair rent a month
Hourly wage
Yearly income
Studio
$935
$17.98
$37,400
1 bedroom
$1,027
$19.75
$41,080
2 bedrooms
$1,343
$25.83
$53,720
3 bedrooms
$1,721
$33.10
$68,840
4 bedrooms
$2,167
$41.67
$86,680
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 La Crescent
HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). La Crescent is in ZIP code 55947.
For 2 bedrooms it is $1,240: $103 less than the fair market rent for Houston County ($1,343).
Fair market rent by ZIP code and size in La Crescent, fiscal year 2027.
ZIP code
Studio
1 bd
2 bd
3 bd
4 bd
55947
$860
$950
$1,240
$1,580
$1,980
ZIP code2 bd3 bd
55947 $1,240$1,580
1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for La Crescent 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 Houston 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 La Crescent or Houston County. The ones below are statewide in Minnesota: they work in La Crescent the same as in the rest of the state.
Minnesota state agency loan for the down payment and closing costs alongside the Start Up mortgage for first-time buyers: up to $14,000 (or $18,000 in the Plus version), with no interest or monthly payments, repaid at the end of the mortgage.Offered by Minnesota Housing (Minnesota Housing Finance Agency).
Minnesota Housing loan of up to $14,000 for the down payment and closing costs, which you repay over 15 years at the same rate as your Minnesota Housing mortgage; it works with Start Up (first-time buyers) or Step Up.Offered by Minnesota Housing (Minnesota Housing Finance Agency).
No legal help resource on our list is for La Crescent or Houston 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 La Crescent and all of Houston 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 La Crescent?
The typical home value in La Crescent is $272,400, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Houston County it is $239,000.
How much does it cost to rent in La Crescent?
Typical rent in La Crescent is $889 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Houston County is $1,343.
What is the FHA loan limit in La Crescent?
La Crescent uses the FHA limit for all of Houston 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 La Crescent?
The typical homeowner in La Crescent pays $3,704 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 1.36% of the home’s value; in Houston County, the rate is 1.15%.
Where can I find free help to buy or rent in La Crescent?
We found no HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Houston County; the nearest ones are on this page. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.
