CountyScore

Boone County

Iowa · IA

#52 in Iowa
69.6
County Score

County Report Card

About Boone County, Iowa

Solid national standing with balanced profile

Boone County scores 69.6, placing it in the top 40% of U.S. counties and well above the national median of 50.0. The county delivers a balanced mix of income opportunity and health outcomes that appeal to diverse households.

Slightly above Iowa's average

At 69.6, Boone exceeds Iowa's 69.3 state average by a modest margin, ranking in the middle-to-upper tier of Iowa's 99 counties. It's a county that consistently meets or exceeds state livability benchmarks.

Income and health form a strong foundation

Boone's income score of 35.4 yields median household income of $79,741, the second-highest in this group, paired with excellent health outcomes (79.0). A risk score of 71.6 signals strong resilience and safety.

Housing costs rise with economic opportunity

Median home values of $191,200 and rent averaging $826 reflect the county's stronger economy but reduce affordability advantages. The effective tax rate of 1.434% is moderately elevated, the trade-off for a more prosperous economy.

For working families balancing growth and value

Boone suits families seeking respectable income opportunity and strong health systems without extreme housing costs. It offers a middle path: more wage growth than ultra-rural counties but better affordability than major metros.

Score breakdown

5 dimensions have live data. 3 more coming as vertical sites launch.

Tax61.9Cost76.4SafetyComing SoonHealth79SchoolsComing SoonIncome35.4Risk71.6WaterComing Soon
🏛61.9
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠76.4
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼35.4
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤79
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡71.6
Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index — flood, fire, tornado, and more
RiskByCounty →
💧Coming Soon
Water Quality
EPA drinking water health violations and safety grades

Explore this county

Property Taxtaxbycounty.comCost of Livingcostbycounty.comIncomeincomebycounty.com
Compare Boone County with another county →

Counties with similar scores

Ketchikan Gateway Borough
Alaska
69.6
Median income: $89,155
Lawrence County
Arkansas
69.6
Median income: $44,164
Logan County
Colorado
69.6
Median income: $55,074
Jasper County
Georgia
69.6
Median income: $59,574
Pickens County
Georgia
69.6
Median income: $75,293

Deep Dives

Boone County across the ByCounty Network

Detailed analysis from 5 data dimensions — each powered by a dedicated ByCounty site.

Property Tax in Boone County

via TaxByCounty

Boone taxes above U.S. averages

Boone County's effective tax rate of 1.434% surpasses the national average, with residents paying $2,741 in median annual property tax—nearly matching the national median despite considerably lower home values. Boone County residents face above-typical property tax burdens compared to most Americans.

Second-highest among profiled counties

Boone County's 1.434% effective rate is the second-highest among our eight profiled counties, well above Iowa's state average of 1.344%. The median tax of $2,741 trails only Black Hawk County ($2,790) and is 27% higher than Iowa's median.

High taxes in central Iowa region

Boone County's 1.434% rate is exceeded only by Black Hawk (1.530%) in the immediate area and substantially exceeds Benton (1.324%), making it the second-priciest county nearby. Central Iowans seeking lower taxes should consider neighboring jurisdictions.

What Boone residents owe annually

A median home valued at $191,200 in Boone County incurs approximately $2,741 in annual property taxes. With a mortgage, that rises to $2,811; without one, it's about $2,618.

Assessment review especially important here

Boone County's elevated tax rate makes property assessment accuracy critical. Many homeowners don't realize their homes are overvalued—filing an appeal is free and could reduce your annual tax liability by hundreds.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in Boone County

via CostByCounty

Boone balances income and housing well

Boone County renters spend just 12.4% of income on housing, below both Iowa's 14.1% average and the national sustainability threshold. With median income at $79,741—above the national average of $74,755—the county delivers genuine housing security.

Among Iowa's most affordable counties

Boone County's 12.4% rent-to-income ratio ranks near the very top of Iowa's affordability spectrum. The $826 median rent, paired with strong median income, creates one of the state's best housing bargains.

Boone competes with Benton for value

Boone County's $79,741 median income trails Benton's $84,742 but far exceeds most rural peers like Adair ($66,176) and Appanoose ($51,146). The $826 rent sits in the mid-range, making Boone's income-to-cost ratio one of the cluster's strongest.

Strong income supports quality housing

Boone renters earning $79,741 spend $826 monthly on housing (12.4% of income) while homeowners commit $1,128. Homeownership costs run high (reflecting a $191,200 median home value), but strong income sustains both renting and buying comfortably.

Boone: prosperity meets affordability

If you're relocating within Iowa and want above-average income potential with below-average housing strain, Boone County delivers. Your housing costs stay modest while the county's economic strength signals job stability and community investment.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in Boone County

via IncomeByCounty

Boone exceeds national income benchmark

Boone County's median household income of $79,741 surpasses the national median of $74,755 by $4,986, a solid 6.7% advantage. The county benefits from diversified manufacturing, agriculture, and emerging healthcare and service sectors centered around Boone's town hub.

Boone ranks among Iowa's highest earners

At $79,741, Boone County's median household income ranks among the top tier in Iowa, exceeding the state average of $69,830 by nearly $10,000. The per capita income of $41,075 also outperforms the state average of $37,136, indicating strong earning capacity.

Boone earns more than most regional peers

Boone ($79,741) trails only Benton County ($84,742) among regional neighbors and significantly outearns lower-income counties like Appanoose ($51,146) and Audubon ($54,152). The county's balanced economy and regional leadership position it as a secondary income hub in central Iowa.

Housing costs are well-managed

Boone's 12.4% rent-to-income ratio is second-best among the eight counties, leaving substantial household income for savings and other expenses. The median home value of $191,200 reflects solid property appreciation and wealth-building potential for homeowners.

Build on Boone's income strength

With income above the national median and manageable housing costs, Boone residents have genuine opportunity to accelerate wealth creation. Maximize tax-advantaged retirement accounts, explore real estate investment, and consult a financial advisor about diversified portfolio strategies to capitalize on this favorable income position.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in Boone County

via HealthByCounty

Boone matches national health averages

At 77.1 years, Boone County life expectancy slightly exceeds the U.S. average of 76.4 years but runs 0.6 year below Iowa's 77.7-year average. With 13.9% in poor or fair health—the lowest in this group—Boone shows solid chronic disease management.

Solid mid-tier Iowa performer

Boone ranks in Iowa's middle tier on life expectancy and in the top half on health prevalence, with 13.9% in poor/fair health. The 4.6% uninsured rate beats the state average of 5.7%, indicating strong coverage supporting preventive care.

Stronger health profile than peers

Boone's 77.1-year life expectancy trails Audubon (79.2) and Benton (79.2) but beats or matches Allamakee (78.4), Adams (77.6), Adair (77.0), and Appanoose (75.4). The 13.9% poor/fair health rate is the lowest in the comparison, suggesting better chronic disease management.

Moderate providers, good mental health access

Boone offers 45 primary care providers per 100,000 and 72 mental health providers per 100,000, solid capacity for a rural county. The 4.6% uninsured rate, second-lowest in this group, means most residents have pathways to both primary and behavioral care.

Protect your health progress

Boone's lowest poor/fair health rate and strong insurance coverage reflect good health practices—but don't take them for granted. Ensure your coverage is current at Healthcare.gov and continue using preventive services and mental health support to maintain the county's positive trajectory.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in Boone County

via RiskByCounty

Boone County: Low Risk, Stable Profile

Boone County's composite score of 28.40 ranks it Very Low and substantially below Iowa's state average of 39.68. This favorable rating reflects consistently modest natural disaster exposure across all major hazard categories compared to national norms.

Among Iowa's Safest Communities

Boone ranks among the state's lowest-risk counties, competing with Adams, Benton, and Allamakee for the safest designation. The county enjoys natural protections from topography and climate that minimize hazard exposure.

Safest in Central Iowa Region

Boone's 28.40 essentially ties with neighboring Benton at 28.82, making both counties clear outliers in a safer corner of Iowa. This contrasts sharply with Black Hawk's extreme 76.59 just to the northeast, creating a dramatic risk gradient.

Tornadoes Lead in Low-Risk County

Even in safe Boone County, tornado risk at 57.22 represents the highest single threat, though well below high-risk counties' scores. Flood exposure at 28.75 and wildfire risk at 15.94 remain comfortably low, simplifying preparedness planning.

Standard Protection Covers Boone

Boone residents can rely on comprehensive standard homeowners policies to manage the county's modest risk profile. Maintain storm awareness, keep emergency supplies accessible, and conduct family safety drills to maximize protection in this low-hazard environment.

Full disaster risk analysis on RiskByCounty

ByCounty Network

🏛Property Tax🏠Cost of Living💼Income & Jobs🛡Safety❤Health🎓Schools⚡Disaster Risk💧Water Quality

Data from U.S. Census Bureau ACS, FBI UCR, CDC, FEMA NRI, NCES, EPA SDWIS — informational only.