Black Hawk County, Iowa Income Statistics
Black Hawk 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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C
Black Hawk County Below averageLess wealthy than 74% of counties in Iowa
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Black Hawk County | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $66,338 | $75,133 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $53,491 | $57,332 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 3.5% | 4.0% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 8.9% | 10.5% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 6.8% | 8.6% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Black Hawk County is about 12% lower than in Iowa. Income has been growing slower in Black Hawk County (3.5%/yr) than in Iowa (4.0%/yr).
About 9% of adults in Black Hawk County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the Iowa average of 11%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Black Hawk County, Iowa grew by 54.6% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $66,338 in 2024. That's an average of about 3.5% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Black Hawk County
| Metric | Black Hawk County | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.517 | 0.510 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $63,054 | $66,524 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $49,616 | $52,524 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 21.3% | 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 Black Hawk County, it is 0.517, higher than Iowa's 0.510, so income is less 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 27% more than women's income in Black Hawk County, Iowa. Over a 35-year career, a 27% wage gap accumulates to roughly $470,330 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Black Hawk County, Iowa has narrowed from about 28% to 21% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 19% in 2022. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $1,447 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Black Hawk County | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6% | 3.6% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 8.9% | 11.3% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 13 | 16 | 22 |
Approximately 3,196 people are unemployed in Black Hawk County, Iowa.
The average commute time in Black Hawk County is 13 minutes, shorter than the 16 minutes in Iowa.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Black Hawk County, Iowa has fallen from 7.1% to 4.6% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 8.2% in 2013 and fell as low as 4.4% in 2019.
Black Hawk County, IA Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Black Hawk County, IA is the largest of the 6 counties compared here, 130,985 residents against a local median of 20,694. Black Hawk County, IA's unemployment, at 4.6%, runs 60% above the 2.8% typical of the counties around it. That is the weaker end of the local range on this measure.
Median household income tells the same story from another angle: $66,338 against a local median of $85,863, 23% below it. Every measure here with a clear better direction points the same way, and it is the wrong way: Black Hawk County, IA reads weaker than its neighbours on all of them. The counties themselves spread 1.9% on unemployment, so Black Hawk County, IA sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Black Hawk County, IA has the 6th 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black Hawk County, IA | 130,985 | $66,338 #6/6 | 3.5%/yr #5/6 | 4.6% #6/6 | 0.517 #6/6 |
| Bremer County, IA | 25,204 | $86,476 | 3.7%/yr | 3.3% | 0.501 |
| Tama County, IA | 16,868 | $70,057 | 3.2%/yr | 3.8% | 0.488 |
| Benton County, IA | 25,722 | $87,152 | 4.5%/yr | 2.0% | 0.484 |
| Buchanan County, IA | 20,694 | $77,708 | 4.1%/yr | 2.8% | 0.472 |
| Grundy County, IA | 12,384 | $85,863 | 4.3%/yr | 2.0% | 0.481 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Black Hawk County, Iowa has an overall wealth index grade of C, making it about on par with Iowa, and about on par with the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Black Hawk County, Iowa.
How Rich Is Black Hawk County, Iowa?
Black Hawk County has a wealth index grade of C. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a C grade means residents are close to the U.S. average. The median household income is $66,338, about 12% lower than the Iowa average of $75,133.
How fast is household income rising in Black Hawk County, Iowa?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Black Hawk County, Iowa rose 55%, from $42,898 to $66,338. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Iowa as a whole: +55% against +56%.
What was the median household income in Black Hawk County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Black Hawk County, Iowa was $65,030, up 4% from $62,536 in 2022. The Iowa median that year was $73,347.
What was the median household income in Black Hawk County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Black Hawk County, Iowa was $55,549. By 2024 it had risen 19% to $66,338.
What is the Gini coefficient in Black Hawk County, Iowa?
The Gini coefficient in Black Hawk County is 0.517. 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 Black Hawk County, Iowa?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Black Hawk County, Iowa has narrowed from about 28% to 21% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 19% in 2022. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $1,447 since 2009.
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