Bolthole Index

Iowa · Off-grid & homestead potential

Decatur County

69Index Score / 100
#9 of 99 in Iowa

Decatur County scores 69/100 on the Bolthole Index, a strong county profile. Its strengths are manageable long-term carry cost and sparse surroundings — about 9,394 people within a 30-minute drive.

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County locator

Decatur County in Iowa

69
County map
Decatur County highlighted among the Iowa counties · colored by Index score

How Decatur County scores

Seclusion62100% ev.
Self-Sufficiency62100% ev.
Admin Boringness5935% ev.
Durability49100% ev.
Property Autonomy51100% ev.
Carry Cost70100% ev.

Evidence strength: 89%. This reports direct-source completeness and fallback use; it is separate from the score and is not a confidence interval. How it works →

$165kTypical home
1.7%Property tax
$5,732Land / acre
37.9"Annual rain
4.9% of yrsSevere drought
7.2 / yr (+6)Mid-century 100°F days
17.8 daysMid-century dry spell
2.01" (+8.2%)Mid-century 1-day rain
1.76×Wildfire change factor
100%Forward climate coverage
$1,658Home insurance / yr
4.4% / yrInsurance growth
0.77%Nonrenewal rate
county median (2+ published ZIPs)Insurance basis
9,394People within 30 min
2,058,936People within 2 hr
8,660Radius comparison (15 mi)
14.4People / sq mi
0.4%Federal land
78.3%Land at 15% slope or less
0.7%Septic soil without severe limits
2,283 acWorkable land screen
24.5%Wooded land
40.6 tonsBiomass / forest ac
50.7°FAvg temp

Scout Decatur County

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Property hunt

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Search live inventory elsewhere, then cost and vet each candidate here. No copied listings, account, or paid data feed.

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A planning estimate, not a valuation or contractor quote. The USDA benchmark includes farm land and buildings; it is context, not a parcel comp.

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Building & land-use rules in Decatur County

What it takes to build here — permits, zoning, and septic — scouted from Decatur County’s own official sources.

  • Building permitNot published

    Not published on an official source — confirm with the county.

  • County zoningNot published

    Not published on an official source — confirm with the county.

  • Septic permittingDecatur County Environmental Health (Public Health)

    Decatur County Environmental Health administers septic/private-sewage permits and 2025 wastewater regulations under the county board of health and Iowa DNR rules.

    Decatur County IA - Environmental Health / Septic Systems ↗
  • Owner-builderNot published

    Not published on an official source — confirm with the county.

  • Building inspectionsNot published

    Not published on an official source — confirm with the county.

  • Occupancy certificateNot published

    Not published on an official source — confirm with the county.

  • Septic permitNot published

    Not published on an official source — confirm with the county.

  • Septic inspectionNot published

    Not published on an official source — confirm with the county.

  • Off-grid sanitationNot published

    Not published on an official source — confirm with the county.

Always confirm current rules with Decatur County Environmental Health (Public Health) before you buy or build. Scouted Aug 2026 from official county sources.

Living off-grid in Decatur County, Iowa

Is Decatur County a good place to live off-grid or homestead?

Decatur County scores 69/100 on the Bolthole Index, a strong county profile. Its strengths: manageable long-term carry cost and sparse surroundings — about 9,394 people within a 30-minute drive.

Do you need a building permit in Decatur County, Iowa?

Building-permit rules for unincorporated Decatur County are not published on an official source. Onsite septic is permitted by Decatur County Environmental Health (Public Health). Rules change and cities within the county differ — always confirm with the county before you buy or build.

How much does land cost in Decatur County, Iowa?

Land in Decatur County runs about $5,732 per acre, based on the latest county data.

What is the water situation in Decatur County?

Decatur County gets about 37.9" of rain a year, with severe drought in roughly 4.9% of years.

How remote is Decatur County?

A representative private-land location has about 9,394 people within a 30-minute drive and 2,058,936 within two hours. The road-network catchments count population across county lines and clusters of smaller cities; straight-line radius values remain available as a comparison.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Decatur County means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

WaterCrystal QuestFilter any source — well, rain, or creek — to drinking-clean.PowerBluettiSolar generators and home battery backup for living off the grid.

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How Decatur compares in Iowa

Compare side-by-side →See all 99 Iowa counties ranked →