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Iowa

Cost of living in Van Buren County, IA

Estimated monthly cost
$2,797/mo
for a single person, all categories combined

Population 7,236 · Last updated May 21, 2026

Cost breakdown

Single person, by category, per month.

Rent $792 28%
Federal tax $482 17%
Healthcare $480 17%
Transport $320 11%
Groceries $315 11%
Energy $195 7%
State tax $163 6%
Water $50 2%

Rent in Van Buren County

Fair Market Rents by bedroom count.

Studio
$646
per month
1 bedroom
$792
per month
2 bedroom
$877
per month
3 bedroom
$1,110
per month
4 bedroom
$1,431
per month

Source: HUD FMR FY2025

Income and earnings in Van Buren County

Annual earnings figures from the Census ACS.

Household income
$60,183
per year
Individual earnings
$39,533
per year
Per capita
$31,538
per year

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year.

Home values in Van Buren County

Average values reported by homeowners.

Average home value
$118,800
Annual property tax
$1,427

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year

Energy costs in Van Buren County

Estimated monthly electricity and gas costs.

Electricity
$134
per month · 15.8¢/kWh
Natural gas
$61
per month
Annual total
$2,340
per year

Source: EIA

Healthcare in Van Buren County

Insurance premiums and coverage rates.

Individual premium
$480
per month
Family premium
$1,350
per month
Uninsured rate
12.2%

Source: ACS + national avg. Marketplace benchmark premiums are second-lowest Silver plan estimates and do not reflect employer plans, subsidies, or out-of-pocket costs. This is not healthcare advice.

Taxes in Van Buren County

State and local tax rates for Iowa.

State income tax
5.7%
Top marginal rate
State sales tax
6.0%
Combined sales tax
6.9%
incl. average local

Tax rates change. Consult a qualified tax professional for advice on your specific situation. This is not tax advice.

Transportation in Van Buren County

Commute patterns and estimated costs.

Average commute
22.8 min
Drive alone
73.3%
Public transit
0.3%
Work from home
10.7%

Source: ACS

Monthly cost estimates for Van Buren County

What it costs to live in Van Buren County each month.

Single person
$2,797
per month
  • Rent $792
  • Energy $195
  • Water $50
  • Groceries $315
  • Transport $320
  • Healthcare $480
  • Federal tax $482
  • State tax $163
Couple
$3,893
per month
  • Rent $877
  • Energy $234
  • Water $60
  • Groceries $522
  • Transport $420
  • Healthcare $864
  • Federal tax $655
  • State tax $261
Family
$6,250
per month
  • Rent $1,110
  • Energy $292
  • Water $70
  • Groceries $792
  • Transport $520
  • Healthcare $1,350
  • Childcare $1,200
  • Federal tax $655
  • State tax $261

Frequently asked questions about Van Buren County

Common questions about cost of living, rent and salary.

What is the average rent in Van Buren County?

In Van Buren County, IA, a one-bedroom apartment averages $792 per month, a two-bedroom averages $877 per month, a three-bedroom averages $1,110 per month, according to HUD Fair Market Rent data.

What is the average salary in Van Buren County?

In Van Buren County, IA, the average household income is $60,183 per year and individual earnings for full-time workers average $39,533 per year, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

What is the cost of living in Van Buren County?

The estimated cost of living in Van Buren County, IA is approximately $2,797 per month for a single person, $3,893 for a couple, $6,250 for a family. This includes rent, utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, and taxes.

What is the sales tax rate in Van Buren County?

The combined sales tax rate in Van Buren County, IA is 6.94%, which includes the Iowa state rate of 6.00% plus an average local rate of 0.94%.

Is Van Buren County an affordable place to live?

Based on the data, a single person in Van Buren County, IA would need approximately $2,797 per month to cover rent, utilities, food, transport, healthcare, and taxes. The average household income is $60,183 per year ($5,015 per month). Van Buren County has a moderate cost of living relative to local earnings.

How much does healthcare cost in Van Buren County?

The ACA marketplace benchmark premium in Van Buren County, IA is approximately $480 per month for an individual. Approximately 12.2% of residents are uninsured. Actual costs vary based on employer coverage, plan type, and individual circumstances.

What are house prices in Van Buren County?

The average home value in Van Buren County, IA is $118,800, with average annual property taxes of $1,427, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

How does Van Buren County compare to other areas?

You can compare Van Buren County, IA with any other US county using our comparison tool at /compare. Van Buren County is in Iowa.

Other counties in Iowa

Browse the full list of counties in Iowa, ranked by cost of living.

See all counties in Iowa

Compare Van Buren County with another area

Put two counties side by side to see how rent, taxes and everyday costs stack up.

About this data

All figures on this page come from official U.S. government sources, listed below.

  • HUD FMR FY2025
  • ACS 2019-2023 5-Year
  • EIA
  • ACS + national avg
  • ACS
  • USDA + BEA RPP
Methodology All data sources