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Buena Vista County

CountyThe kind of area this report covers. Neighborhood areas nest inside each other, from broad districts down to small pockets.IowaSeller's market
Market temperatureA 0 to 100 score comparing this area with every similar area nationwide each month. 0 is the strongest buyer's market, 100 the strongest seller's market.Seller's market · 68
Buyer's marketBalancedSeller's market
$175K
Median sale priceThe middle sale price each month, counting normal open-market sales. The average runs above the median when a few expensive sales pull it up. Bars show how many homes sold.
+6.4%
1-yr changeHow much prices and sales counts changed since the same time last year, using a 3-month average to smooth out noise. Above the dashed line means growth.
169
Sales (12 mo)How many homes sold here in the last 12 months. More sales make the other numbers more reliable.
$171K
Median valueThe middle estimated value of all homes here, not just the ones that recently sold.

Deed records through Jul 2026Counties take time to publish deeds, so the newest months can be incomplete and may shift as more records arrive.

Market Trends

Market temperature (0–100)How the 0 to 100 market score moved over time. It blends price growth, sales pace, how often homes change hands, and seller profits.Temperature
20162018201920202022202320252026
Sale pricesThe middle sale price each month, counting normal open-market sales. The average runs above the median when a few expensive sales pull it up. Bars show how many homes sold.MedianSales
20162018201920202022202320252026
Growth (year over year)How much prices and sales counts changed since the same time last year, using a 3-month average to smooth out noise. Above the dashed line means growth.PriceSales
20162018201920202022202320252026
Price per square footThe middle price per square foot, for sales where the size is known. It adjusts for homes being different sizes.$/ft²
20162018201920202022202320252026
Sale premium vs estimated valueHow sale prices compare with our estimated values at the time of sale. Above the dashed line, homes sold for more than the models expected — a sign of competitive bidding. Below it, buyers paid under model value.Premium
20162018201920202022202320252026
Annual turnover (share of homes sold)The share of all homes here that sold in the trailing 12 months. Higher turnover means a more liquid market where homes trade hands more often.Turnover
20162018201920202022202320252026
Buyer mixWho is buying. Cash means no mortgage was recorded, investor means the buyer looked like an investor, and flip means the home resold within a year.CashInvestorFlip resale
20162018201920202022202320252026
Financing (share of purchase price)For buyers who borrowed: the middle share of the price they financed, and the middle share they paid up front.Loan (LTV)Down payment
20162018201920202022202320252026
Sellers who sold at a gainThe share of sellers each month who sold for more than they originally paid.Sold at gain
20162018201920202022202320252026
Typical hold before sellingThe middle number of years sellers owned their home before selling.Median hold
20162018201920202022202320252026
Median annualized return at resaleThe middle yearly gain sellers earned, spread across the years they owned the home. Only counts homes held at least a year.Annualized gain
20162018201920202022202320252026
Preforeclosure filingsForeclosure notices filed each month. A rise can be an early sign that more owners are struggling. Auction stage counts the filings that reached a scheduled foreclosure auction.FilingsAuction stage
20162017201920202022202320252026

Housing Stock

HomesHow many homes we have records for in this area.7,167
Median value (AVM)The middle estimated value of all homes here, not just the ones that recently sold.$171K
Median sizeThe middle home size here, measured in square feet.1,433 ft²
Median bedroomsThe middle bedroom count for homes here.3
Median year builtThe middle build year for homes here. A recent year means most housing is newer.1950
Single familyThe share of homes here that are single-family houses.81%
CondosThe share of homes here that are condos.3.3%

Equity & Ownership

Equity rich (LTV ≤ 50%)The share of owners who owe half or less of what their home is worth, meaning they hold a lot of equity.52%
Underwater (LTV ≥ 125%)The share of owners who owe at least 25% more than their home is worth.4.6%
Owner occupiedThe share of homes lived in by their owner rather than rented out or left empty.81%
Company ownedThe share of homes owned by a company or trust instead of a person.17%
Median loan-to-valueThe middle share of home value still owed on loans across all owners here.49%
Typical ownership tenureHow long the typical owner here has held their home.8.9 yrs

CommunityThese are comparison scores, not percentages. 100 equals the national average, so 150 means about 50% above average.

CrimeLocal crime compared with the rest of the country, where 100 is average. It reflects things like population density, income, and how crime gets reported.117
Air pollutionOverall air pollution compared with the rest of the country, where 100 is average. Lower is cleaner.94
EarthquakeEarthquake risk and likely building damage compared with the rest of the country, where 100 is average. Scores can run far above 100.16

Index scale: 100 = US average (tick). Lower is better.

Homes occupiedThe share of homes here that someone lives in. The rest sit empty, including vacation and for-sale homes.92%
Bachelor's or higherThe share of adults 25 and older whose highest degree is a bachelor's degree.14%
Poverty rateThe share of people whose household income falls below the federal poverty line, which varies by family size.6.4%
UnemploymentThe share of men 16 and older who are out of work and actively looking. Only men are counted in this figure.0.8%
PopulationHow many people live in this area.20,703
DensityPeople per square mile. Higher numbers mean a more crowded, urban area.36 / mi²
Median household incomeThe middle household income here — half of households earn more, half earn less.$67K
Average household incomeThe average household income. It runs higher than the median when a few high earners pull it up.$87K
Average tempThe average temperature here across a full year.47°F
Annual precipHow much rain and melted snow falls here in a typical year.32 in
SunshineThe share of daylight hours that get direct sun in a typical year, counting cloud cover.61%

Market metrics are derived from recorded arms-length deeds and refreshed nightly. Temperature blends price momentum, sales velocity, turnover and resale outcomes, ranked against all countys nationally.

How Buena Vista County compares

By median home value, Buena Vista County is the 50th most expensive of 99 counties in Iowa, and its typical home is worth more than 36% of all homes in Iowa.

Home values in Buena Vista County

Share of homes at each estimated value.

Median
$43K$588K
counties in Iowa ranked by median home value
#IowaMedian valueHomes
1Dickinson County$419K14,763
2Dallas County$351K45,864
3Madison County$334K6,952
4Johnson County$318K56,039
5Warren County$303K21,219
6Mills County$287K6,446
7Polk County$280K166,727
8Sioux County$275K12,296
9Story County$268K28,443
10Dubuque County$260K34,659
11Plymouth County$254K9,951
12Lyon County$248K4,777
13Marion County$245K13,424
14Bremer County$241K9,738
15Pottawattamie County$236K35,440
16Scott County$233K62,545
17Linn County$233K89,402
18Cedar County$227K7,976
19Iowa County$227K6,759
20Delaware County$226K8,514
21Winneshiek County$221K8,163
22Benton County$219K10,825
23Allamakee County$218K7,318
24Washington County$218K9,071
50Buena Vista County$171K7,167

99 counties in Iowa are ranked; the most valuable are listed here.

Markets in Buena Vista County, most valuable first

About the Buena Vista County market

What is the median home price in Buena Vista County, IA?

The median sale price in Buena Vista County, IA is $174,833 (data through July 2026), based on deeds recorded with the county. That is up 6.4% from a year earlier.

How many homes sell in Buena Vista County, IA each year?

169 homes sold in Buena Vista County, IA over the last 12 months (data through July 2026). TopHap counts recorded arm's-length deeds, not listings, so the figure is not affected by which brokerage handled the sale.

Is Buena Vista County, IA a buyer's or seller's market?

Buena Vista County, IA is currently a seller's market, scoring 68 out of 100 on TopHap's market temperature index (data through July 2026). The score weighs sales velocity and price direction; above 60 favours sellers, below 40 favours buyers.

How many homes are there in Buena Vista County, IA?

Buena Vista County, IA contains 7,167 residential properties, with a median of 1,433 square feet, 3 bedrooms, built around 1950. The median TopHap Estimate is $171K.

How does Buena Vista County, IA compare to the rest of Iowa?

By median home value, Buena Vista County, IA is the 50th most expensive of 99 counties in Iowa. Its typical home is worth more than 36% of all homes in Iowa. The ranking is rebuilt nightly from the county assessor record of every home in each area.

Do people own or rent in Buena Vista County, IA?

81% of homes in Buena Vista County, IA are owner-occupied. 17% are held by a company rather than an individual.

How much equity do owners in Buena Vista County, IA hold?

52% of mortgaged homes in Buena Vista County, IA are equity-rich, meaning the loan balance is under half the home's value. 4.6% owe more than the home is worth.

Browse addresses

Every street and address TopHap holds is browsable by state, county and city. Browse Iowa property records.

Explore Buena Vista County on the map

See every recorded sale, price heat map, school zone and flood overlay across Buena Vista County in TopHap’s interactive 3D map.

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A flyover of TopHap's photorealistic 3D map, with recorded sale prices pinned to homes
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