CountyScore

Webster County

Iowa · IA

#77 in Iowa
67.1
County Score

County Report Card

About Webster County, Iowa

Competitive livability well above median

Webster County scores 67.1 on the CountyScore index, comfortably above the national median of 50.0. The county ranks around the 34th percentile nationally, demonstrating solid, above-average livability.

Slightly below Iowa's state average

At 67.1, Webster falls just short of Iowa's state average of 69.3, placing it in the middle-to-upper tier of Iowa counties. The county remains competitive despite the modest gap.

Affordability and health align well

Webster County offers strong housing affordability with a Cost Score of 82.1, supported by a median home value of $138,500 and monthly rent of $762. Health Score of 75.6 is solid, contributing to good overall quality of life.

Risk exposure and income growth lag

The Risk Score of 40.0 indicates moderate vulnerability to external shocks, and the Income Score of 27.8 reflects limited wage growth with a median household income of $68,054. These factors suggest economic constraints.

Sweet spot for practical homebuyers

Webster County attracts families prioritizing affordable housing and decent health services while accepting moderate income levels and risk exposure. It's a practical choice for those valuing community stability and low living costs over maximum earning potential.

Score breakdown

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

Tax60.7Cost82.1SafetyComing SoonHealth75.6SchoolsComing SoonIncome27.8Risk40WaterComing Soon
🏛60.7
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠82.1
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼27.8
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤75.6
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡40
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 Webster County with another county →

Counties with similar scores

Elbert County
Georgia
67.1
Median income: $49,727
Wayne County
Illinois
67.1
Median income: $53,107
Monroe County
Indiana
67.1
Median income: $63,372
Warren County
Iowa
67.1
Median income: $92,990
Logan County
Kansas
67.1
Median income: $71,389

Deep Dives

Webster County across the ByCounty Network

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

Property Tax in Webster County

via TaxByCounty

Webster County taxes run 10% above national average

At 1.478%, Webster County's effective tax rate exceeds the national median, placing it in the higher-tax tier nationally. The median property tax of $2,047 remains below the national median of $2,690, reflecting that homes here are worth less than the U.S. average.

Above-average taxes for Iowa

Webster County's 1.478% effective rate runs about 10% higher than Iowa's state average of 1.344%, ranking it in the upper-middle tier statewide. The median property tax of $2,047 falls slightly short of Iowa's $2,160 average relative to home values.

Moderate taxes for the north-central region

Webster's 1.478% rate sits between Winnebago County's lower 1.361% and Wapello's higher 1.642%, placing it in the regional middle. The county's median tax of $2,047 exceeds several neighbors while trailing Warren County's substantially higher burden.

What you'll pay on a typical home

On Webster's median home value of $138,500, the typical property tax bill comes to $2,047 annually, or about $171 per month. Those with a mortgage typically pay $2,153 once escrow and insurance are factored in.

Check if your assessment is fair

Webster County homeowners should review their assessments, as assessment errors are widespread across Iowa. If your home's assessed value seems high compared to recent comparable sales, an appeal could reduce your annual property tax.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in Webster County

via CostByCounty

Webster rents deliver solid affordability

Webster County residents spend 13.4% of household income on rent, matching Iowa's best performers and beating the state average of 14.1%. At $762 monthly, rents here are $50 below the state median, offering reliable affordability for modest-income households.

Among Iowa's most affordable counties

Webster County's 13.4% rent-to-income ratio ranks it among the top performers statewide, competing with the state's best affordability stories. This strong showing reflects the county's economic balance between reasonable wages and moderate housing costs.

Balanced costs within central Iowa cluster

Webster's $762 rent sits between Wayne ($660) and Washington ($862), positioning it as a moderate option in the broader region. Its median home value of $138,500 is affordable without being rock-bottom, appealing to middle-income buyers seeking reasonable entry points.

Webster provides comfortable affordability balance

With $68,054 in median income and $762 monthly rent, Webster households dedicate 13.4% of gross income to housing, preserving nearly $6,000 annually for other expenses. Homebuyers at $832 monthly face similar proportions, making Webster accessible for both renters and owners.

Webster offers practical Iowa balance

Relocating to Iowa? Webster County's 13.4% rent-to-income ratio and moderate home values ($138,500) provide solid affordability without the lowest-cost stigma of rural alternatives. The county suits those seeking genuine value in a balanced community.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in Webster County

via IncomeByCounty

Webster trails U.S. median income

Webster County's median household income of $68,054 falls short of the national median of $74,755 by $6,701, a gap of 8.9%. Per capita income of $35,172 similarly lags the national average, suggesting moderate earning constraints. Webster's below-median positioning reflects typical challenges in manufacturing-dependent rural economies.

Slightly below Iowa's state average

Webster County's median household income of $68,054 falls modestly short of Iowa's state average of $69,830 by less than $1,800, placing it near the state median. Per capita income of $35,172 trails Iowa's average of $37,136 by roughly 5%, indicating slightly weaker individual earning power. Webster represents a typical rural Iowa county with fairly aligned state-level economics.

Webster in the middle-income range

Webster's $68,054 income exceeds lower-tier counties like Wayne ($59,118) and Wapello ($60,034) but trails Winneshiek ($75,652) and Warren ($92,990) by meaningful margins. It sits very close to Washington County ($71,339) and Winnebago County ($63,719), forming a middle-income peer group. This positioning reflects a moderately stable local economy with room for growth.

Rent-to-income ratio shows stability

Webster's rent-to-income ratio of 13.4% sits comfortably below the 30% affordability threshold, indicating manageable rental costs for most households. With a median home value of $138,500 and median household income of $68,054, homeownership is accessible for credit-qualified families. The balance between income levels and housing costs supports reasonably stable homeownership in the county.

Build wealth through steady discipline

Webster residents earning around $68,000 should establish automated 401(k) contributions and explore employer matching programs to accelerate retirement savings. With modest but steady income, disciplined budgeting and monthly investing in low-cost index funds can yield meaningful long-term wealth. Paying down high-interest debt and maintaining a three-month emergency fund provides a foundation for financial growth.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in Webster County

via HealthByCounty

Webster's Life Expectancy Falls Short

At 74.5 years, Webster County ties Wapello for the lowest life expectancy in this cohort, falling 1.9 years below the U.S. average and 3.2 years below Iowa's state average. However, only 14.1% report poor or fair health, suggesting hidden health vulnerabilities despite decent self-perception.

Among Iowa's Shortest Lifespans

Webster County ranks among the lowest in Iowa for life expectancy, though its 14.1% poor/fair health rate is closer to state norms. The county's 5.7% uninsured rate matches the state average exactly, indicating insurance coverage is not a primary barrier.

Outpaced by Regional Peers

Webster County's 74.5-year life expectancy significantly trails nearby Winnebago County (78.8 years) and Winneshiek County (81.8 years) to the north. The county offers an exceptional 337 mental health providers per 100K—the highest among all eight counties—yet struggles with low life expectancy.

Primary Care Shortage Prominent

Webster County offers only 43 primary care providers per 100K—the lowest in this cohort—limiting access to preventive and routine medical care. Despite this shortage and poor life expectancy outcomes, the county features the strongest mental health provider network at 337 per 100K.

Strengthen Primary Care Access

Webster County's primary care shortage (43 per 100K) likely contributes to its low life expectancy; residents should prioritize establishing relationships with available providers. With the uninsured rate at state average, most have coverage—use it to schedule preventive care and address health gaps early.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in Webster County

via RiskByCounty

Webster faces above-average natural hazards

Webster County scores 59.99, placing it in the Relatively Low category but 51% above the national average. The county experiences substantially more severe weather exposure than typical U.S. communities.

One of Iowa's highest-risk counties

Webster ranks well above Iowa's state average of 39.68 with a score of 59.99, among the state's top hazard-exposed counties. This elevated risk stems primarily from exceptional tornado vulnerability.

Significantly riskier than most neighbors

Webster (59.99) substantially exceeds Winnebago (30.66) and Winneshiek (36.20), approaching the extreme risk level of Wapello (65.33). The county ranks among Iowa's riskiest communities overall.

Tornadoes present extraordinary threat

Tornado risk soars to 92.08 in Webster County—one of the highest scores in the entire nation. Flood risk at 47.11 ranks second, while wildfire risk remains surprisingly low at 19.15.

Tornado insurance is non-negotiable

Webster residents face severe tornado risk (92.08) and must prioritize comprehensive wind and hail coverage in any homeowners policy. Consider additional umbrella or storm-specific policies given the extraordinary tornado exposure.

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.