States › Iowa › Winterset

Is Winterset, IA expensive to live in?

CheapRent takes 19 cents of every $1 people earn here.
🏠 Rent per month (2026)$1,12836% lower than U.S. average
💵 Families earn per year (2026)$73,023about $6,085/month · 16% lower than U.S. average
🔑 House price$192,50042% lower than U.S. average

Rent is lower than in 80% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs under 3 years of household income, which is easy by U.S. standards.

How much money do I need?

To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $45,120 a year. That is $22 an hour at a full-time job.

Is rent cheaper than other Iowa cities?

No. Rent here is more expensive than in most of Iowa. It is number 50 of 86 cities from cheapest to most expensive.

Winterset
$1,128
Algona
$979
Centerville
$835
Sheldon
$1,051
Clarinda
$730
Red Oak
$898
Spirit Lake
$1,007

How much do households earn in Winterset?

Under $25k
13.8%
$25k–50k
32.4%
$50k–100k
41.4%
$100k–150k
7.0%
$150k+
4.7%

Share of households by yearly income. 11.7% of households earn $100,000 or more.

Rent by apartment size in Winterset

SizeWintersetU.S. average
1 bedroom$693$1,324
2 bedrooms$1,145$1,509
3 bedrooms$1,309$1,698

Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.

How expensive is Winterset overall?

Everyday prices in Iowa overall are 12% below the U.S. average (index 87.8, U.S. = 100).

Housing
65
Goods (food, clothes…)
94
Utilities
83
Other services
93
U.S. average
100

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities 2024. City-level data is not published for Winterset, so the Iowa figure is shown.

Taxes and bills in Winterset

🏛️ Property tax$3,457a year · 1.80% of home value · U.S. $3,119
⚡ Electric bill$148a month (typical) · U.S. $156

Life in Winterset

Commute to work23.9 minU.S.: 26.4 min
College degree22%U.S.: 35.7%
Own their home64.7%U.S.: 65.2%
Below poverty line10.3%U.S.: 12.5%
Unemployment3%U.S.: 5.2%

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Winterset?

Renting is cheaper right now: about $208 a month less.

Renting
$1,128
Owning
$1,336

Owning assumes a typical $192,500 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $19,250 for the down payment.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average rent in Winterset, IA?

Renting in Winterset costs a median of about $1,128 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Iowa median is $1,071.

How much do I need to make to live in Winterset?

To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $45,120 a year, or $22 an hour at a full-time job.

Is Winterset cheap or expensive?

Winterset is rated Cheap: rent takes 18.5% of the typical household income of $73,023. It ranks 50th cheapest of 86 Iowa cities we track.

How much are property taxes in Winterset?

The median homeowner in Winterset pays $3,457 a year in property taxes, about 1.80% of the median home value.

Is Winterset more expensive than the national average?

Overall prices in Iowa are 12% below the U.S. average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

How much does a house cost in Winterset?

The median home value in Winterset is $192,500, about 2.6 times the typical yearly household income.

5,416 people live in Winterset. Numbers are typical (middle) values.