Moving and all the associated decisions that accompany it can be a daunting task, and in the rural areas, it can be difficult to determine exactly where the best rental and home-buying opportunities may lie. In a second annual study conducted by New York financial technology company, SmartAsset, that compares average rent and home prices across the country and across each state, three area counties were named the top 10 locations in Iowa to rent or buy a home. Crawford County came into the rankings at number 2 with an average monthly mortgage rate of $364, an average home price of just over $89,600 and average monthly rent of $765. Audubon County was lower in rental and mortgage rates but placed fourth because of lower overall home valuations. They averaged a monthly mortgage rate of only $351, average house prices of $86,600 and average monthly rent at $739. Carroll County was the seventh best county in Iowa for home rental or purchase with an average monthly mortgage rate of $351, average home price of $86,640 and average rental rates at $739.