Buchanan County, Iowa Income Statistics
Buchanan 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
Buchanan County Around averageWealthier than 81% of counties in Iowa
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Buchanan County | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $77,708 | $75,133 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $53,363 | $57,332 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.1% | 4.0% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 7.6% | 10.5% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 5.2% | 8.6% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Buchanan County is about 3% higher than in Iowa. Income has been growing faster in Buchanan County (4.1%/yr) than in Iowa (4.0%/yr).
About 8% of adults in Buchanan 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 Buchanan County, Iowa grew by 54.4% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $77,708 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.1% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Buchanan County
| Metric | Buchanan County | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.472 | 0.510 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $62,403 | $66,524 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $49,958 | $52,524 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 19.9% | 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 Buchanan County, it is 0.472, 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 25% more than women's income in Buchanan County, Iowa. Over a 35-year career, a 25% wage gap accumulates to roughly $435,575 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Buchanan County, Iowa has narrowed from about 22% to 20% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 32% in 2014, and was narrowest at 18% in 2022. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $3,607 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Buchanan County | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 2.8% | 3.6% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 8.4% | 11.3% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 20 | 16 | 22 |
Approximately 313 people are unemployed in Buchanan County, Iowa.
The average commute time in Buchanan County is 20 minutes, longer than the 16 minutes in Iowa.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Buchanan County, Iowa has fallen from 5.2% to 2.8% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 5.3% in 2012 and fell as low as 2.2% in 2019.
Buchanan County, IA Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Buchanan County, IA is the 4th largest of the 6 counties compared here, 20,694 residents against a local median of 25,722. Where Buchanan County, IA breaks from the counties next to it is income growth, sitting 28% above the local median of 3.2%/yr at 4.1%/yr. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread 1.5%/yr on income growth, so Buchanan County, IA sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Buchanan County, IA has the 2nd highest income growth 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buchanan County, IA | 20,694 | $77,708 #3/6 | 4.1%/yr #2/6 | 2.8% #3/6 | 0.472 #1/6 |
| Fayette County, IA | 16,443 | $60,476 | 3.2%/yr | 3.2% | 0.495 |
| Benton County, IA | 25,722 | $87,152 | 4.5%/yr | 2.0% | 0.484 |
| Linn County, IA | 230,016 | $78,016 | 3.2%/yr | 3.4% | 0.504 |
| Delaware County, IA | 17,558 | $74,990 | 3.0%/yr | 2.0% | 0.485 |
| Black Hawk County, IA | 130,985 | $66,338 | 3.5%/yr | 4.6% | 0.517 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Buchanan 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 Buchanan County, Iowa.
How Rich Is Buchanan County, Iowa?
Buchanan 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 $77,708, about 3% higher than the Iowa average of $75,133.
How has median household income changed in Buchanan County, Iowa?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Buchanan County, Iowa rose 54%, from $50,343 to $77,708. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Iowa as a whole: +54% against +56%.
What was the median household income in Buchanan County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Buchanan County, Iowa was $77,773, up 6% from $73,354 in 2022. The Iowa median that year was $73,347.
What was the median household income in Buchanan County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Buchanan County, Iowa was $67,443. By 2024 it had risen 15% to $77,708.
What is the Gini coefficient in Buchanan County, Iowa?
The Gini coefficient in Buchanan County is 0.472. 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 Buchanan County, Iowa?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Buchanan County, Iowa has narrowed from about 22% to 20% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 32% in 2014, and was narrowest at 18% in 2022. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $3,607 since 2009.
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