Hardin County, Iowa
A shallow water table limits basements on 57% of Hardin County's mapped land, a higher share than 72% of US counties. Shrink-swell clay limits houses without basements on 17%.
None of the county is in drought on the October 13, 2026 Drought Monitor map. FEMA's flood data list 4 flood losses here since 2016. 84% of homes were built before 1980, against 50% nationally; the median home dates from 1956.
Data as of October 13, 2026 · sources
expansive clay: shrink-swell limits slab homes
high water table: limits basements
in drought, October 13, 2026
of homes built before 1980
Soil under Hardin County
| Expansive clay (limits slab homes) | 16.7% |
| High water table (limits basements) | 57.4% |
| Septic fields very limited | 71.2% |
| Clay swell (LEP, by area) | 3.6% |
| High-swell land (LEP 6%+) | 4.5% |
| Mapped soil | 364,400 acres |
How we count · survey areas IA083 (2026-05-05)
What the numbers mean here
Clay swell averages a linear extensibility of 3.6% by land area here, and 5% of the land reaches USDA's high class (6% or more). Clay like that swells when wet and shrinks when dry, under 17% of the mapped land.
On 57% of Hardin County's mapped land, soil stays saturated within about 6 feet of the surface for part of the year, which is basement depth.
Rain over the 12 months to August 2026: 38.25 in, 2.01 in above the 1991-2020 average year of 36.24 in.
USDA rates 71% of the land very limited for septic absorption fields.
Drought
0% of the county is in drought (D1 or worse) on the October 13, 2026 map. No part of the county was in drought in the last 52 weeks.
| Category, October 13, 2026 | Share of county |
|---|---|
| D0 abnormally dry or worse | 0% |
| D1 moderate drought or worse | 0% |
| D2 severe or worse | 0% |
| D3 extreme or worse | 0% |
| D4 exceptional | 0% |
Flood losses since 2016
4 flood losses since 2016, $92,297 paid. The worst year was 2024, with 2.
| Year | Flood losses |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 0 |
| 2017 | 0 |
| 2018 | 0 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 0 |
| 2021 | 0 |
| 2022 | 0 |
| 2023 | 0 |
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2025 | 1 |
| 2026 to date | 0 |
Rain
| Average year, 1991-2020 | 36.24 in |
| 12 months to August 2026 | 38.25 in (+2.01) |
| 2025 | 40.26 in (+4.02) |
| Wettest year since 1895 | 1993: 54.84 in |
| Driest year since 1895 | 1988: 19.69 in |
| Days with 1 inch or more, normal at ELDORA (8 mi away) | 9.1 |
Homes
| Housing units | 8,011 |
| Median year built | 1956 |
| Built before 1980 | 84% |
| Built 2000 or later | 5% |
| Owner-occupied | 74% |
| Median value, owner-occupied | $122,500 |
| Single-family detached | 84% |
What repairs cost
Published ranges from cost guides, not quotes. More sources, and where they disagree.
Nearby counties
| Place | Distance | Expansive clay | High water table |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grundy County, IA | 23 mi | 59% | 67% |
| Hamilton County, IA | 24 mi | 32% | 91% |
| Franklin County, IA | 24 mi | 13% | 72% |
| Story County, IA | 27 mi | 9% | 64% |
| Marshall County, IA | 28 mi | 42% | 47% |
| Butler County, IA | 33 mi | 9% | 73% |
| Wright County, IA | 34 mi | 27% | 89% |
| Tama County, IA | 42 mi | 42% | 49% |
Sources: USDA SSURGO (May 5, 2026) · US Drought Monitor (October 13, 2026) · FEMA NFIP v3 (September 9, 2026) · NOAA (August 2026) · Census ACS 2020-2024. Methods · Data status