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IA area data

Kensett, IA

Kensett, IA.

Population: 620 (Census ACS)

The median home value in Kensett, IA is $183,278 — up 5.8% over the past year. Homes sell for a median $150,000 after a median 103 days on market. FEMA's National Risk Index rates the county's overall natural-hazard risk Very Low, with drought the top-rated hazards. Cost of living is 10.5% below the US average (BEA, metro/state-level).

Backed by 25+ public sourcesFEMA · U.S. Census · NOAA · Dept. of Education · EPA · and more

$183,278

Median home value

+5.8%

1-year change

103

Median days on market

Very Low

Hazard risk (county)

Home values & appreciation

Median home value
$183,278
1-year appreciation
+5.8%
3-year appreciation
+19.6%
5-year appreciation
+40.1%
All-time peak (2026-06)
$183,481
House Price Index (state)
379.0 (+3.7% YoY)

Sources: home value index (ZIP-level) · FHFA House Price Index (state-level)

Market activity

Median sale price
$150,000
Median list price
$344,200
Median price per sqft
$93
Median days on market
103 days
Homes sold (recent period)
3
Sale-to-list ratio
97.1%
1-year forecast
+1.5%

Source: recent area sales and market data (ZIP-level)

Rents

Studio fair-market rent
$696/mo
1BR fair-market rent
$870/mo
2BR fair-market rent
$1,088/mo
3BR fair-market rent
$1,415/mo
4BR fair-market rent
$1,633/mo

Sources: market rent index (ZIP-level) · HUD Fair Market Rents (metro/county-level, 40th-percentile regulatory reference)

Affordability

Cost of living index (Low)
89.5 (100 = US avg)
Electricity rate (state-level)
13.7¢/kWh
Natural gas rate (state-level)
$10.60/MCF
30-year mortgage rate (national)
6.66%
15-year mortgage rate (national)
6.00%

Sources: BEA Regional Price Parities (metro/state-level) · EIA energy rates (state-level) · Freddie Mac PMMS (national)

Natural hazards & flood risk

Overall hazard risk (county)
Very Low
Top hazards (county)
drought
Notable hazard ratings (county)
coldWave: Relatively Low · drought: Relatively Moderate · strongWind: Relatively Low · tornado: Relatively Low · winterWeather: Relatively Low
FEMA flood zone
X
Flood risk level
Minimal
Wildfire risk to homes (county)
Higher than 10% of US counties
Buildings in wildfire direct-exposure zone
36.9%
Radon potential (county)
High radon potential — EPA Zone 1 of 3
EPA Superfund (NPL) sites within 5 mi
None
Nearest Superfund site
Mason City Coal Gasification Plant (14.1 mi)
EPA recommends radon testing for every home regardless of zone.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (county-level) · FEMA flood data (ZIP-level) · USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities (county-level) · EPA radon zones + Superfund NPL

Climate (30-year normals)

Average annual temperature
79.0°F
Average high
80.0°F
Average low
78.0°F
Annual precipitation
48.3 in
USDA plant hardiness zone
5a (extreme annual low -20 to -15°F)

Sources: NOAA Climate Normals (30-year, nearest-station) · USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)

Walkability & transit

Walkability index
3.8 / 20
Transit service frequency
-99,999
Jobs reachable by car (30 min)
2,871
Jobs reachable by transit (45 min)
3,144

Source: EPA Smart Location Database (metropolitan block groups)

Amenities

Airports within 30 mi
18
Nearest airport
Holt Farms Airport (6 mi)
Nearest major airport
Mason City Municipal Airport (MCW) (14 mi)
Hospitals nearby (~15 mi)
339
Hospitals include
ST VINCENT'S BIRMINGHAM, MOBILE INFIRMARY MEDICAL CENTER, MEDICAL WEST, AN AFFILIATE OF UAB HEALTH SYSTEM
Avg hospital rating (CMS)
3.0 / 5
Best hospital rating nearby (CMS)
5.0 / 5
Solar radiation rating
Fair (3.9 kWh/m²/day)

Sources: National Park Service · FAA airport data · CMS hospital data · DOE/NREL (proximity-based)

Migration

Net migration (county)
-32 tax filers

Source: IRS county-to-county migration data (county-level, ~12-month lag)

Housing stock

Median year housing built
1,942
Housing built before 1970
66.1%
Housing built 2000 or later
10.6%
Median annual property tax
$1,391
Mean commute to work
22 min
Households with broadband internet
76.6%

Source: Census ACS 5-year estimates (ZIP-level)

Employment & development

Total county employment
1,852
Average weekly wage
$901
Top industries (by employment)
Health Care, Wholesale Trade, Construction
Annual residential building permits (county)
2

Sources: BLS QCEW (county-level) · Census Building Permits (county-level)

How it compares

KensettState medianUS median
Median home value$183,278$211,348$289,727
Median sale price$150,000$220,000$325,000
Median days on market103 days48 days51 days
Median annual property tax$1,391$1,927$2,006

State and US medians are computed across all US ZIP codes with sufficient public-data coverage, from the same sources as the figures above.

Area data compiled from public government, academic, and industry research feeds. Data sources →

Common questions

What is the median home value in Kensett, IA?
$183,278.
What is the median sale price in Kensett, IA?
$150,000.
How long do homes take to sell in Kensett, IA?
Median days on market: 103 days.
What is typical rent in Kensett, IA?
2-bedroom fair-market rent: $1,088/month (HUD FMR — a 40th-percentile regulatory reference, not market-observed).
What is the natural-hazard risk in Kensett, IA?
Overall risk: Very Low (FEMA NRI, county-level). Top hazards: drought.
Is Kensett, IA in a flood zone?
Minimal (FEMA NFIP). FEMA flood zone X.
What is the wildfire risk in Kensett, IA?
Risk to homes is higher than 10% of US counties (USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities, county-level).
What is the radon potential in Kensett, IA?
High radon potential — EPA Zone 1 of 3, county-level. EPA recommends testing every home regardless of zone.
Are there Superfund sites near Kensett, IA?
No current or proposed National Priorities List sites within 5 miles (EPA).
Is Kensett, IA walkable?
Walkability index: 3.8/20 (EPA Smart Location Database).
What is the cost of living in Kensett, IA?
Regional Price Parity: 89.5 (100 = US average) (Low) (BEA RPP, metro/state-level).

ZIP code for Kensett

Selling a home in Kensett, IA?

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Data last updated

Most recent source refresh: Sep 2026. See all data sources →

Data compiled by REAIGENT7 — AI listing platform for real estate agents