Benton County, Iowa Income Statistics
Benton County Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of a county's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
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B
Benton County Around averageWealthier than 91% of counties in Iowa
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Benton County | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $87,152 | $75,133 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $59,921 | $57,332 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.5% | 4.0% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 11.4% | 10.5% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 8.9% | 8.6% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Benton County is about 16% higher than in Iowa. Income has been growing faster in Benton County (4.5%/yr) than in Iowa (4.0%/yr).
About 11% of adults in Benton County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, higher than the Iowa average of 11%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Benton County, Iowa grew by 77.0% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $87,152 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.5% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Benton County
| Metric | Benton County | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.484 | 0.510 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $68,922 | $66,524 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $57,768 | $52,524 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 16.2% | 21.0% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Benton County, it is 0.484, lower than Iowa's 0.510, so income is more evenly distributed here than there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 19% more than women's income in Benton County, Iowa. Over a 35-year career, a 19% wage gap accumulates to roughly $390,390 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Benton County, Iowa has narrowed from about 28% to 16% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 32% in 2016. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $1,262 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Benton County | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 2.0% | 3.6% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 11.5% | 11.3% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 23 | 16 | 22 |
Approximately 270 people are unemployed in Benton County, Iowa.
The average commute time in Benton County is 23 minutes, longer than the 16 minutes in Iowa.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Benton County, Iowa has fallen from 4.7% to 2.0% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 5.2% in 2013.
Benton County, IA Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Benton County, IA is the 3rd largest of the 6 counties compared here, 25,722 residents against a local median of 20,694. Where Benton County, IA breaks from the counties next to it is unemployment, sitting 42% below the local median of 3.4% at 2.0%. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
Income growth tells the same story from another angle: 4.5%/yr against a local median of 3.2%/yr, 41% above it. Every measure here with a clear better direction points the same way, so Benton County, IA is not trading one advantage for another, it reads stronger than its neighbours across the board. The counties themselves spread 2.7% on unemployment, so Benton County, IA sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Benton County, IA has the 2nd lowest unemployment of the 6 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Benton County, IA | 25,722 | $87,152 #1/6 | 4.5%/yr #1/6 | 2.0% #2/6 | 0.484 #3/6 |
| Iowa County, IA | 16,507 | $71,556 | 3.0%/yr | 1.9% | 0.454 |
| Buchanan County, IA | 20,694 | $77,708 | 4.1%/yr | 2.8% | 0.472 |
| Black Hawk County, IA | 130,985 | $66,338 | 3.5%/yr | 4.6% | 0.517 |
| Linn County, IA | 230,016 | $78,016 | 3.2%/yr | 3.4% | 0.504 |
| Tama County, IA | 16,868 | $70,057 | 3.2%/yr | 3.8% | 0.488 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Benton County, Iowa has an overall wealth index grade of B, making it somewhat better than Iowa, and somewhat better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Benton County, Iowa.
How Rich Is Benton County, Iowa?
Benton County has a wealth index grade of B. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a B grade means residents are quite well off compared to the U.S. average. The median household income is $87,152, about 16% higher than the Iowa average of $75,133.
Are incomes growing in Benton County, Iowa?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Benton County, Iowa rose 77%, from $49,238 to $87,152. Over the same years, income here outpaced Iowa as a whole: +77% against +56%.
What was the median household income in Benton County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Benton County, Iowa was $85,446, up 7% from $79,611 in 2022. The Iowa median that year was $73,347.
What was the median household income in Benton County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Benton County, Iowa was $67,057. By 2024 it had risen 30% to $87,152.
Is unemployment high in Benton County, Iowa?
Unemployment in Benton County, Iowa is only 2.0%, well below the Iowa rate of 3.6%, a sign of a tight labor market where employers compete for workers.
What is the Gini coefficient in Benton County, Iowa?
The Gini coefficient in Benton County is 0.484. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is lower than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Benton County, Iowa?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Benton County, Iowa has narrowed from about 28% to 16% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 32% in 2016. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $1,262 since 2009.
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