With a composite score of 67.6, Fayette County outperforms the national median of 50.0 by 35 percentile points, placing it solidly in the upper third of U.S. counties. This score reflects a county where cost of living and health outcomes provide meaningful advantages over typical American regions.
2 / 5
Slightly below Iowa's county average
Fayette's 67.6 score trails Iowa's state average of 69.3, ranking it in the middle tier of the state's 99 counties. The county holds its own in Iowa's competitive livability landscape, though several neighboring counties edge ahead.
3 / 5
Affordable housing and decent health
Fayette's biggest advantage is housing affordability, with a cost score of 80.6 and a median home value of just $130,800. Health outcomes are solid at 74.2, and the effective tax rate of 1.316% keeps the overall tax burden manageable for residents.
4 / 5
Income growth lags behind peers
The county's income score of just 21.8 is its weakest dimension, with a median household income of $58,764—notably below several neighboring counties. Risk indicators (49.1) also suggest moderate exposure to economic or environmental vulnerabilities that warrant attention.
5 / 5
Best for budget-conscious families seeking stability
Fayette suits families and retirees prioritizing affordable housing and modest tax burdens over rapid income growth or urban amenities. If you value a lower cost of living and adequate health care access over higher earning potential, this county delivers solid livability.
With a composite score of 67.6, Fayette County outperforms the national median of 50.0 by 35 percentile points, placing it solidly in the upper third of U.S. counties. This score reflects a county where cost of living and health outcomes provide meaningful advantages over typical American regions.
Slightly below Iowa's county average
Fayette's 67.6 score trails Iowa's state average of 69.3, ranking it in the middle tier of the state's 99 counties. The county holds its own in Iowa's competitive livability landscape, though several neighboring counties edge ahead.
Affordable housing and decent health
Fayette's biggest advantage is housing affordability, with a cost score of 80.6 and a median home value of just $130,800. Health outcomes are solid at 74.2, and the effective tax rate of 1.316% keeps the overall tax burden manageable for residents.
Income growth lags behind peers
The county's income score of just 21.8 is its weakest dimension, with a median household income of $58,764—notably below several neighboring counties. Risk indicators (49.1) also suggest moderate exposure to economic or environmental vulnerabilities that warrant attention.
Best for budget-conscious families seeking stability
Fayette suits families and retirees prioritizing affordable housing and modest tax burdens over rapid income growth or urban amenities. If you value a lower cost of living and adequate health care access over higher earning potential, this county delivers solid livability.
Score breakdown
5 dimensions have live data. 3 more coming as vertical sites launch.
🏛65.3
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
At 1.316%, Fayette County's effective tax rate sits well below the national median of 1.57%, placing the county in roughly the 35th percentile nationally. Homeowners here pay $1,721 annually on the median property, compared to the national median of $2,690—a difference of nearly $1,000 per year.
Just below the Iowa average
Fayette's 1.316% effective rate ranks 35th among Iowa's 99 counties, sitting slightly below the state average of 1.344%. The median tax bill of $1,721 falls roughly $440 below the state median of $2,160.
Among the region's lowest-taxed
Fayette outpaces neighboring Floyd County (1.391%) and Franklin County (1.348%) in tax efficiency. Only Greene County (1.197%) in the broader region offers a meaningfully lower effective rate.
Median tax on median home
A homeowner with the county's median property value of $130,800 pays approximately $1,721 annually in property taxes. With a mortgage, the figure rises to $1,746; without, it drops to $1,678.
Your assessment may be high
Many Iowa homeowners are overassessed relative to market value and don't realize it—appealing your assessment costs nothing and could lower your tax bill. If you believe your home's assessed value doesn't match its actual market worth, consider filing an appeal with your county assessor.
Fayette County renters spend 16.6% of their income on housing, outpacing the national average by about 2 percentage points. While the median rent of $813 is affordable in absolute terms, household incomes of $58,764—about 21% below the national median—make that burden heavier here than across the country.
Above-average housing pressure in Iowa
Fayette ranks among Iowa's least affordable counties, with a rent-to-income ratio of 16.6% compared to the state average of 14.1%. This positions the county in the upper tier of housing cost burden across Iowa's 99 counties.
Neighbor counties offer cheaper rents
Fayette's median rent of $813 is higher than adjacent Franklin County ($649) and Floyd County ($672), though comparable to Greene County ($774). Renters in Fayette pay notably more than their neighbors despite similar income levels, suggesting a local market premium.
Housing consumes over a sixth of income
The typical Fayette household earns $58,764 annually while dedicating roughly $813 monthly to rent or $870 to homeownership costs. That means 16.6% of gross income flows to rent alone—leaving less for utilities, food, transportation, and other necessities.
Considering Fayette? Compare your options.
If affordability is your priority, neighboring Franklin and Floyd counties offer lower rents without sacrificing rural Iowa living. Before relocating, calculate your personal rent-to-income ratio: if it exceeds 20%, you may find better value just over the county line.
Fayette County's median household income of $58,764 falls 21% below the national median of $74,755. This places the county among the lower-income communities nationally, signaling economic challenges that many rural Midwestern counties face.
Below Average Within Iowa
At $58,764, Fayette ranks below Iowa's state median of $69,830, putting it in the lower tier of Iowa counties by household income. The county's per capita income of $32,982 also trails the state average of $37,136.
Among the Lowest in the Region
Neighboring Floyd County earns $64,500 and Grundy County reaches $83,617, both significantly outpacing Fayette's income levels. The disparity suggests economic divergence even within this cluster of north-central Iowa counties.
Housing Remains Affordable Here
Fayette's rent-to-income ratio of 16.6% is manageable, meaning housing costs consume less than one-fifth of typical household earnings. With a median home value of $130,800, homeownership remains accessible despite modest incomes.
Build Financial Resilience Today
Fayette households earning $58,764 annually should prioritize building emergency savings and exploring retirement accounts like IRAs to maximize tax-advantaged growth. Even modest, consistent investments compound significantly over time and can help narrow wealth gaps.
Fayette County residents live an average of 77.1 years, trailing the U.S. life expectancy of 78.9 years by 1.8 years. About 18.3% of adults report poor or fair health, suggesting underlying chronic conditions affect a meaningful share of the population. These figures underscore health challenges that deserve attention and intervention.
Below Iowa's average life expectancy
At 77.1 years, Fayette County's life expectancy falls short of Iowa's 77.7-year state average. This 0.6-year gap places the county in the lower half of Iowa counties, signaling that residents here face greater health headwinds than their state peers. The difference may reflect demographic shifts, economic factors, or healthcare access disparities.
Similar health trends to nearby counties
Fayette's 77.1-year life expectancy sits between Floyd County (76.7 years) and Hamilton County (77.2 years), making it a middle performer in the region. However, its 18.3% poor/fair health rate exceeds most neighboring counties, suggesting residents experience more self-reported health challenges despite comparable life spans. This mismatch warrants deeper investigation into quality of life and disease burden.
Healthcare access remains reasonably available
Fayette County has 31 primary care providers per 100,000 residents—above many rural Iowa counties but below the state's needs. With a 5.6% uninsured rate (nearly matching the state's 5.7%), most residents have insurance coverage, though 83 mental health providers per 100K suggest mental health resources are more readily available than primary care.
Check your health insurance options
If you're among the 5.6% of Fayette County adults without coverage, the Healthcare.gov marketplace and Iowa's Medicaid program offer affordable pathways to care. Uninsured residents often delay seeking care, leading to more serious—and costly—health problems down the road. Contact your local health department or a community health navigator to explore plans that fit your budget.
Fayette County scores 50.89 on natural disaster risk, placing it well above the national average and earning a "Relatively Low" rating. This means residents face above-typical exposure to climate hazards compared to most American counties, though local risk remains manageable overall.
Above average for Iowa
With a composite risk score of 50.89, Fayette ranks higher than Iowa's 39.68 state average, making it among the riskier counties in the state. This elevated profile reflects Iowa's natural hazard landscape more than most neighboring counties.
Riskier than most neighbors
Fayette's 50.89 score exceeds nearby Floyd County (47.74) and Franklin County (21.95), placing it in the higher-risk tier regionally. Only Hamilton County (42.91) comes close, though it remains below Fayette's exposure level.
Tornadoes and flooding dominate
Tornado risk reaches 71.53 in Fayette County, the highest hazard in the county and significantly above state norms. Flood risk follows at 59.16, creating a dual threat that residents should actively prepare for with proper emergency plans.
Get flood and storm coverage now
Fayette residents should prioritize comprehensive homeowners insurance that explicitly covers tornado damage and wind events, plus separate flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program. Given tornado risk scores above 70, a reinforced safe room or basement shelter could save lives during severe weather events.