Is now a good time to buy a home in Iowa?
The typical home value in Iowa is $240K as of Aug 2026 (Zillow Home Value Index), up 3.4% from a year earlier. Over five years prices have compounded at +4.7% a year. Prices are 4.3% below their 10-year trend line.
Iowa price trend & forecast
Cities in Iowa ranked by buy-timing score
| City | Typical value | 1Y change | 5Y CAGR | 12M outlook | Signal | Buy-timing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Johnston | $401K | +0.8% | +3.4% | +1.3% | ACCUMULATE | 56/100 |
| Clinton | $137K | +7.1% | +4.0% | +3.3% | BUY | 55/100 |
| Waukee | $346K | -1.3% | +1.2% | -0.5% | ACCUMULATE | 54/100 |
| Indianola | $314K | +1.9% | +4.1% | +0.9% | ACCUMULATE | 54/100 |
| Marion | $281K | +4.2% | +4.0% | +1.4% | ACCUMULATE | 53/100 |
| North Liberty | $312K | +2.2% | +4.1% | +1.3% | ACCUMULATE | 53/100 |
| Altoona | $321K | -0.7% | +2.9% | -0.3% | ACCUMULATE | 53/100 |
| Clive | $432K | +1.2% | +3.6% | +0.5% | ACCUMULATE | 53/100 |
| Ankeny | $339K | +0.5% | +3.1% | -0.2% | ACCUMULATE | 52/100 |
| Coralville | $263K | +2.8% | +4.1% | +1.6% | ACCUMULATE | 52/100 |
| West Des Moines | $323K | +0.3% | +3.4% | +0.1% | ACCUMULATE | 51/100 |
| Urbandale | $352K | +0.2% | +3.5% | -0.2% | ACCUMULATE | 51/100 |
| Bettendorf | $342K | +6.5% | +4.3% | +2.1% | ACCUMULATE | 51/100 |
| Cedar Rapids | $213K | +1.8% | +4.0% | +0.9% | ACCUMULATE | 50/100 |
| Council Bluffs | $231K | +2.5% | +5.2% | +0.5% | WAIT | 50/100 |
| Marshalltown | $181K | +2.8% | +4.2% | +0.7% | WAIT | 49/100 |
| Des Moines | $211K | -0.3% | +3.6% | -0.7% | WAIT | 48/100 |
| Davenport | $197K | +3.9% | +3.3% | +1.4% | WAIT | 48/100 |
| Ames | $305K | +2.6% | +3.0% | +0.6% | ACCUMULATE | 48/100 |
| Dubuque | $251K | +4.1% | +5.2% | +0.3% | WAIT | 45/100 |
| Cedar Falls | $269K | +1.5% | +4.8% | +0.1% | WAIT | 44/100 |
| Muscatine | $197K | +5.4% | +4.5% | +1.8% | WAIT | 44/100 |
| Waterloo | $148K | -0.2% | +4.2% | -0.4% | WAIT | 43/100 |
| Ottumwa | $125K | +2.4% | +5.1% | -1.3% | WAIT | 39/100 |
| Newton | $206K | +2.7% | +4.9% | -1.7% | WAIT | 39/100 |
| Fort Dodge | $132K | +0.5% | +0.9% | -2.0% | WAIT | 37/100 |
| Burlington | $129K | +0.8% | +2.2% | -1.4% | WAIT | 35/100 |
Frequently asked questions
Is now a good time to buy a home in Iowa?
As of Aug 2026, our buy-timing signal for Iowa is WAIT — the model projects prices about -3.1% lower around Feb 2027. Patience is likely to be rewarded; use the time to negotiate and arrange financing. Buy-timing score: 49/100.
Will home prices in Iowa go down in 2027?
The model projects +1.2% over the next 12 months: about $243K by Aug 2027, with an 80% range of $239K–$248K (today $240K). Forecasts are statistical and can be wrong — rates, supply and local events matter.
What is the average home price in Iowa?
The typical (mid-tier) home value in Iowa is $240K as of Aug 2026, +3.4% year over year.
What is the cheapest time of year to buy in Iowa?
Historically, prices in Iowa run lowest in February, about 2.1% below the annual average, and highest in August.
Which areas in Iowa have the best buy-timing right now?
Highest buy-timing scores: Johnston (56/100, ACCUMULATE), Clinton (55/100, BUY) and Waukee (54/100, ACCUMULATE). Fastest-rising prices: Clinton (+7.1%), Bettendorf (+6.5%) and Muscatine (+5.4%).
Other states
Source & method
Data: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI) — all homes, mid-tier, raw monthly, monthly, latest Aug 2026. Page regenerated 2026-10-08 22:04 PDT. Signals combine valuation vs the long-run trend, momentum and a damped-trend forecast with seasonal adjustment; the “best price window” is the lowest point of the projected path. BUY = prices projected to rise and not stretched; ACCUMULATE = near fair value; WAIT = a dip is projected; HOT = running well ahead of trend; CAUTION = stretched with fading momentum.