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Palo Alto County

CountyThe kind of area this report covers. Neighborhood areas nest inside each other, from broad districts down to small pockets.IowaBuyer'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.Buyer's market · 31
Buyer's marketBalancedSeller's market
$133K
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.
-7.1%
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.
116
Sales (12 mo)How many homes sold here in the last 12 months. More sales make the other numbers more reliable.
$128K
Median valueThe middle estimated value of all homes here, not just the ones that recently sold.

Deed records through Jun 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
20162018201920222023202420252026

Housing Stock

HomesHow many homes we have records for in this area.4,260
Median value (AVM)The middle estimated value of all homes here, not just the ones that recently sold.$128K
Median sizeThe middle home size here, measured in square feet.1,400 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.1948
Single familyThe share of homes here that are single-family houses.81%
CondosThe share of homes here that are condos.0.8%

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.61%
Underwater (LTV ≥ 125%)The share of owners who owe at least 25% more than their home is worth.6.2%
Owner occupiedThe share of homes lived in by their owner rather than rented out or left empty.100%
Company ownedThe share of homes owned by a company or trust instead of a person.14%
Median loan-to-valueThe middle share of home value still owed on loans across all owners here.35%
Typical ownership tenureHow long the typical owner here has held their home.9.0 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.129
Air pollutionOverall air pollution compared with the rest of the country, where 100 is average. Lower is cleaner.92
EarthquakeEarthquake risk and likely building damage compared with the rest of the country, where 100 is average. Scores can run far above 100.15

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.83%
Bachelor's or higherThe share of adults 25 and older whose highest degree is a bachelor's degree.13%
Poverty rateThe share of people whose household income falls below the federal poverty line, which varies by family size.13%
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.8,854
DensityPeople per square mile. Higher numbers mean a more crowded, urban area.16 / mi²
Median household incomeThe middle household income here — half of households earn more, half earn less.$70K
Average household incomeThe average household income. It runs higher than the median when a few high earners pull it up.$82K
Average tempThe average temperature here across a full year.46°F
Annual precipHow much rain and melted snow falls here in a typical year.31 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 Palo Alto County compares

By median home value, Palo Alto County is the 80th most expensive of 99 counties in Iowa, and its typical home is worth more than 22% of all homes in Iowa.

Home values in Palo Alto County

Share of homes at each estimated value.

Median
$30K$585K
counties in Iowa ranked by median home value
#IowaMedian valueHomes
1Dickinson County$421K14,763
2Dallas County$350K45,714
3Madison County$334K6,952
4Johnson County$319K56,039
5Warren County$304K21,143
6Mills County$287K6,446
7Polk County$281K166,471
8Sioux County$275K12,296
9Story County$268K28,443
10Dubuque County$260K34,658
11Plymouth County$253K9,950
12Lyon County$249K4,774
13Marion County$244K13,424
14Bremer County$241K9,737
15Pottawattamie County$236K35,440
16Linn County$233K89,404
17Scott County$231K62,546
18Iowa County$227K6,759
19Delaware County$227K8,514
20Cedar County$227K7,976
21Winneshiek County$221K8,162
22Benton County$219K10,823
23Allamakee County$218K7,318
24Washington County$217K9,070
80Palo Alto County$128K4,260

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

Markets in Palo Alto County, most valuable first

About the Palo Alto County market

What is the median home price in Palo Alto County, IA?

The median sale price in Palo Alto County, IA is $132,500 (data through June 2026), based on deeds recorded with the county. That is down 7.1% from a year earlier.

How many homes sell in Palo Alto County, IA each year?

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

Is Palo Alto County, IA a buyer's or seller's market?

Palo Alto County, IA is currently a buyer's market, scoring 31 out of 100 on TopHap's market temperature index (data through June 2026). The score weighs sales velocity and price direction; above 60 favours sellers, below 40 favours buyers.

How many homes are there in Palo Alto County, IA?

Palo Alto County, IA contains 4,260 residential properties, with a median of 1,400 square feet, 3 bedrooms, built around 1948. The median TopHap Estimate is $128K.

How does Palo Alto County, IA compare to the rest of Iowa?

By median home value, Palo Alto County, IA is the 80th most expensive of 99 counties in Iowa. Its typical home is worth more than 22% 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 Palo Alto County, IA?

100% of homes in Palo Alto County, IA are owner-occupied. 14% are held by a company rather than an individual.

How much equity do owners in Palo Alto County, IA hold?

61% of mortgaged homes in Palo Alto County, IA are equity-rich, meaning the loan balance is under half the home's value. 6.2% owe more than the home is worth.

Browse addresses

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

Explore Palo Alto County on the map

See every recorded sale, price heat map, school zone and flood overlay across Palo Alto Countyin TopHap’s interactive 3D map.

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