Is Boone County, IA good for real estate investing?

Boone County has an investment score of 65/100, rated as "Buy". The county ranks #311 nationally among 1000 counties analyzed.

What is the rent-to-price ratio in Boone?

The rent-to-price ratio in Boone County is 5.08% annually, which ranks in the 27th percentile nationally. Higher ratios indicate better cash flow potential.

What is the median home price in Boone?

The median home price in Boone County is $223,786. This ranks #317 in affordability among all US counties.

Can you cash flow on rental properties in Boone?

Based on median values with 20% down at current rates, a typical rental in Boone County would generate negative cash flow of $558/month. Individual property performance varies based on purchase price, rent, and operating expenses.

Boone County

IowaPopulation: 26,700

/100

Buy

#311 of 1,000 counties

#76 in Iowa (99 counties)

Market Snapshot

$223,786

Median Home Price

18% below national median

$948/mo

Median Rent

37% below national median

5.08%

Rent-to-Price Ratio

Top 73% nationally

-$558

Est. Monthly Cash Flow

With 20% down at 6.9% rate

Price History

Trend based on YoY growth rate. Source: Zillow ZHVI/ZORI

Quick Investment Calculator

Down Payment20%

5%50%100%

Purchase

Purchase Price$223,786

Down Payment (20%)$44,757

Loan Amount$179,029

Interest Rate6.85%

Monthly Cash Flow

Gross Rent+$948

Monthly P&I-$1,173

Est. Expenses (35%)-$332

Net Cash Flow-$558/mo

3.3%

Cap Rate (all cash)

-13.0%

Cash-on-Cash Return

5.08%

Rent-to-Price Ratio

Negative leverage: At 6.85% rates, borrowing costs exceed the 3.3% cap rate. All-cash buyers may see better returns.

* Based on county median values. 35% expenses include taxes, insurance, maintenance, vacancy, and property management. Actual results vary by property.

Run Full Analysis Try House Hack Strategy

Score Breakdown

Overall Investment Score

65/100

Cash Flow(30%)

46/100

Based on 5.08% rent-to-price ratio. Higher ratios indicate stronger cash flow potential.

Appreciation(25%)

88/100

Based on 5.6% YoY price growth. Moderate growth (3-8%) scores highest.

Stability(25%)

50/100

Population data not available.

Affordability(20%)

86/100

Price-to-income ratio of 3.0x. Lower ratios indicate more affordable markets.

Scores are calculated using real Zillow home value and rent data, Census population data, and economic indicators. The weighted average produces the overall investment score. Markets with missing rent data use estimated values based on regional averages.

Investment Outlook

Strengths

+Strong price appreciation (+5.6% YoY)
+Affordable relative to local incomes
+Complete rent data available

Challenges

-Below-average rent-to-price ratio (5.08%)
-Negative cash flow at typical financing (-$558/mo)
-Negative leverage (cap rate 3.3% < mortgage rate 6.9%)

Economic Indicators

Population

26,700

Median Income

$75,759

vs $62,400 national est.

Unemployment Rate

—

Data pending

Price-to-Income

3.0x

Very affordable

Compare to Nearby Counties

County					Verdict
PottawattamieIA	67	$232,170	$1,290	6.67%	Buy	View
ClintonIA	67	$168,815	$819	5.82%	Buy	View
CurrentBooneIA	65	$223,786	$948	5.08%	Buy
BuchananIA	65	$215,995	$850	4.72%	Buy	View
MadisonIA	65	$328,942	Est. pending	—	Buy	View
ScottIA	63	$233,631	$1,060	5.44%	Buy	View

The Bottom Line

BuyBoone offers solid investment potential with good cash flow or appreciation prospects.

Boone County in Iowa scores 65/100, ranking #311 of 1,000 US counties (top 31%). The 5.08% rent-to-price ratio may require creative strategies or below-market purchases for positive cash flow. Current market conditions make traditional buy-and-hold investing challenging. Consider house hacking, value-add strategies, or all-cash purchases.

Monthly Cash Flow

$-558/mo

Cap Rate

3.3%

Cash-on-Cash

-13.0%

Ready to Analyze a Deal in Boone?

Use our investment calculators to run detailed numbers on specific properties.

Single Family1-4 unit rentals, BRRRR House HackOwner-occupied strategy Multifamily5+ unit properties

Explore Other Markets

Quick Investment Calculator

Down Payment20%

5%50%100%

Purchase

Purchase Price$223,786

Down Payment (20%)$44,757

Loan Amount$179,029

Interest Rate6.85%

Monthly Cash Flow

Gross Rent+$948

Monthly P&I-$1,173

Est. Expenses (35%)-$332

Net Cash Flow-$558/mo

3.3%

Cap Rate (all cash)

-13.0%

Cash-on-Cash Return

5.08%

Rent-to-Price Ratio

Negative leverage: At 6.85% rates, borrowing costs exceed the 3.3% cap rate. All-cash buyers may see better returns.

* Based on county median values. 35% expenses include taxes, insurance, maintenance, vacancy, and property management. Actual results vary by property.

Run Full Analysis Try House Hack Strategy

Score Breakdown

Overall Investment Score

65/100

Cash Flow(30%)

46/100

Based on 5.08% rent-to-price ratio. Higher ratios indicate stronger cash flow potential.

Appreciation(25%)

88/100

Based on 5.6% YoY price growth. Moderate growth (3-8%) scores highest.

Stability(25%)

50/100

Population data not available.

Affordability(20%)

86/100

Price-to-income ratio of 3.0x. Lower ratios indicate more affordable markets.

County

Verdict

PottawattamieIA

$232,170

$1,290

6.67%

Buy

View

ClintonIA

$168,815

$819

5.82%

Buy

View

CurrentBooneIA

$223,786

$948

5.08%

Buy

BuchananIA

$215,995

$850

4.72%

Buy

View

MadisonIA

$328,942

Est. pending

—

Buy

View

ScottIA

$233,631

$1,060

5.44%

Buy

View

The Bottom Line

BuyBoone offers solid investment potential with good cash flow or appreciation prospects.

Monthly Cash Flow

$-558/mo

Cap Rate

3.3%

Cash-on-Cash

-13.0%