CountyScore

Crawford County

Iowa · IA

#81 in Iowa
66.5
County Score

County Report Card

About Crawford County, Iowa

Above national median with moderate strength

Crawford County's composite score of 66.5 is 33% above the national median of 50.0, placing it in the upper-middle range of U.S. counties. The county demonstrates consistent performance across livability dimensions relative to national peers.

Below Iowa's state average by modest margin

At 66.5, Crawford County trails Iowa's state average of 69.3 by 2.8 points, ranking in the middle-lower tier of Iowa counties. The gap reflects some economic and demographic challenges relative to state peers.

Best housing value with strong affordability

Crawford County shines with the lowest median home value ($136,300) and tied-best rent ($727/month) among these eight counties, earning a Cost Score of 82.3. This exceptional housing affordability is the county's signature strength for budget-conscious families.

Lower incomes and modest economic risk resilience

The county's Income Score of 25.8 and median household income of $65,039 lag state trends for wage growth. A Risk Score of 39.2 indicates economic volatility, suggesting some employment instability or industry concentration.

Best value play for affordability-focused families

Crawford County is ideal for retirees on fixed incomes, first-time homebuyers, and remote workers seeking maximum housing purchasing power. The county delivers exceptional value but with modest economic growth prospects.

Score breakdown

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

Tax65.1Cost82.3SafetyComing SoonHealth69.7SchoolsComing SoonIncome25.8Risk39.2WaterComing Soon
🏛65.1
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠82.3
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼25.8
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤69.7
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡39.2
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 Crawford County with another county →

Counties with similar scores

Seminole County
Georgia
66.5
Median income: $49,559
Monroe County
Illinois
66.5
Median income: $101,635
White County
Illinois
66.5
Median income: $53,097
Cass County
Iowa
66.5
Median income: $61,657
Marion County
Kansas
66.5
Median income: $63,438

Deep Dives

Crawford County across the ByCounty Network

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

Property Tax in Crawford County

via TaxByCounty

Crawford County slightly above national average

At 1.320%, Crawford County's effective tax rate runs just below the national median of 1.347%, placing it around the 48th percentile nationally. The county's $1,799 median property tax sits 33% below the national median of $2,690, reflecting Iowa's relatively affordable housing market.

Close to Iowa's state average

Crawford County's effective rate of 1.320% sits just slightly below Iowa's state average of 1.344%, making it nearly perfectly aligned with statewide norms. The county's $1,799 median property tax trails the state median of $2,160 by about 17%.

Reasonable taxes for west-central Iowa

Crawford County's 1.320% rate sits comfortably in the middle tier of its region, below Clarke (1.458%) and Clay (1.183%), offering moderate taxes. The county provides a balanced tax environment compared to extremes elsewhere in Iowa.

Average bill on modest home value

On Crawford County's median home value of $136,300, the 1.320% effective rate works out to $1,799 in annual property taxes. With a mortgage, you'd owe closer to $2,099; without, approximately $1,536.

Every county benefits from appeals

Even in average-tax counties, overassessment happens—and the remedy is free. Crawford County homeowners can request an informal review of their assessment with the county assessor at no cost and no risk.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in Crawford County

via CostByCounty

Crawford County delivers genuine affordability

Crawford County's rent-to-income ratio of 13.4% beats Iowa's state average of 14.1% and sits in the top tier nationally for housing affordability. At $727 monthly rent with median income of $65,039, housing remains comfortably within household budgets.

Among Iowa's most affordable counties

Crawford ranks in the state's most affordable tier with a 13.4% rent-to-income ratio, well below Iowa's 14.1% average. Its $727 monthly rent is $85 cheaper than the state median, reflecting lower demand and costs in rural northwest Iowa.

The bargain basement of the region

Crawford's $727 rent is the cheapest in this eight-county comparison, with only Cherokee close behind at $711—and Crawford's median home value of $136,300 ranks as the region's lowest. This combination makes Crawford the budget option for cost-conscious relocators.

Rents stay lean, homes stay cheap

Crawford renters pay just $727 monthly while homeowners invest $865, allocating only 13.4% and 16% of income respectively to housing. With median home values of $136,300, ownership is genuinely achievable for workers earning the county median.

Crawford County: Iowa's affordability sweet spot

If housing affordability is your top relocation priority, Crawford County and Cherokee County are your best bets in Iowa—both deliver rents below $730 and home values under $150,000. You'll trade some local wage potential for unbeatable housing costs, making Crawford ideal for retirees and remote workers.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in Crawford County

via IncomeByCounty

Crawford income trails national standards

Crawford County's median household income of $65,039 falls 13.1% below the U.S. median of $74,755, placing the county among lower-income regions nationally. This gap typical of rural northwest Iowa, reflects limited access to higher-wage employment sectors.

Below average for Iowa counties

Crawford's $65,039 lags Iowa's state average of $69,830 by $4,791, ranking the county in the lower-middle tier of the state's 99 counties. Its per capita income of $32,731 trails the state average of $37,136 by the largest margin in this eight-county cluster, suggesting significant income inequality.

Similar to nearby rural counties

Crawford's $65,039 closely mirrors Cerro Gordo ($65,537) and Clinton ($65,177), confirming consistent economic performance across this rural region. Chickasaw's $73,421 represents the regional ceiling, showing a $8,000+ spread between top and bottom performers.

Lowest housing burden in the cluster

Crawford's 13.4% rent-to-income ratio ranks among the best in this eight-county group, offering exceptional housing affordability and maximum household flexibility. A median home value of $136,300—the lowest here—makes homeownership highly accessible for median-earning families.

Crawford's affordability unlocks wealth potential

With just 13.4% of income dedicated to housing and home values at $136,300, Crawford households earning $65,039 reclaim thousands annually for investing. Automate even modest savings—$150 monthly into an index fund—and compound growth over 30 years yields $100,000+ despite current modest income levels.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in Crawford County

via HealthByCounty

Solid life expectancy with health concerns

Crawford County residents live an average of 78.5 years, nearly matching the U.S. average of 78.3 years. However, the county's alarming 20.2% poor or fair health rate far exceeds the national average of 15%, signaling significant unmet health needs.

Iowa average life expectancy, high illness

At 78.5 years, Crawford County's life expectancy slightly exceeds Iowa's 77.7-year state average, yet the 20.2% poor or fair health rate is among the worst in the state. This contradiction suggests residents live longer but experience considerable illness and disability.

Critically low provider availability

Crawford County has just 19 primary care providers per 100,000 residents—the lowest in the region—and only 56 mental health providers per 100K. Residents face severe barriers to routine medical care and must frequently travel far for any healthcare service.

Highest uninsured rate in the group

Crawford's 9.8% uninsured rate is nearly double Iowa's 5.7% average and the highest among these eight counties, leaving roughly 1 in 10 residents without coverage. When combined with the county's critically sparse provider network, uninsured residents face nearly insurmountable barriers to preventive and urgent care.

Insurance is urgent here

Crawford residents without coverage must prioritize enrollment through Healthcare.gov or Iowa Medicaid—the stakes are highest here. Insurance opens doors to care outside your county and ensures you can address the health challenges driving the county's elevated illness rate.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in Crawford County

via RiskByCounty

Crawford County faces above-average risk

Crawford's composite risk score of 60.85 exceeds Iowa's state average of 39.68, placing it in the relatively-low-risk tier nationally. West-central Iowa experiences concentrated hazard exposure, particularly from tornadoes and wildfires.

Among Iowa's more vulnerable counties

Crawford ranks in the upper third of Iowa's 99 counties by composite risk with its 60.85 score. This positioning reflects above-average tornado and wildfire exposure compared to most Iowa communities.

Higher risk than most nearby counties

Crawford's 60.85 score significantly exceeds nearby Chickasaw (31.74) and Buena Vista counties, though aligns with western Iowa's generally elevated tornado exposure. Its topography and continental climate create this elevated vulnerability.

Tornado and wildfire drive exposure

Crawford faces tornado risk of 82.38—among Iowa's highest—combined with wildfire risk of 46.22 that exceeds state average. Flood (56.08) and earthquake (9.92) risks remain lower but still merit attention.

Tornado and wildfire coverage critical

Crawford residents need robust windstorm insurance for tornado protection, which standard policies exclude entirely. Those near grasslands or forests should ensure wildfire coverage and maintain defensible space around structures.

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.