Buena Vista County, Iowa Income Statistics
Buena Vista 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
Buena Vista County Below averageLess wealthy than 81% of counties in Iowa
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Buena Vista County | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $72,416 | $75,133 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $49,057 | $57,332 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.9% | 4.0% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 5.8% | 10.5% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 6.7% | 8.6% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Buena Vista County is about 4% lower than in Iowa. Income has been growing faster in Buena Vista County (4.9%/yr) than in Iowa (4.0%/yr).
About 6% of adults in Buena Vista 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 Buena Vista County, Iowa grew by 71.1% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $72,416 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.9% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Buena Vista County
| Metric | Buena Vista County | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.495 | 0.510 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $57,064 | $66,524 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $49,473 | $52,524 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 13.3% | 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 Buena Vista County, it is 0.495, 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 15% more than women's income in Buena Vista County, Iowa. Over a 35-year career, a 15% wage gap accumulates to roughly $265,685 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Buena Vista County, Iowa has narrowed from about 28% to 13% in 2024. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $2,348 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Buena Vista County | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5% | 3.6% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 5.6% | 11.3% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 11 | 16 | 22 |
Approximately 606 people are unemployed in Buena Vista County, Iowa.
The average commute time in Buena Vista County is 11 minutes, shorter than the 16 minutes in Iowa.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Buena Vista County, Iowa has risen from 3.6% to 5.5% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 5.9% in 2020 and fell as low as 3.2% in 2012.
Buena Vista County, IA Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Buena Vista County, IA is the largest of the 6 counties compared here, 20,753 residents against a local median of 9,689. Where Buena Vista County, IA breaks from the counties next to it is unemployment, sitting 58% above the local median of 3.5% at 5.5%. That is the weaker end of the local range on this measure.
Income growth tells the same story from another angle: 4.9%/yr against a local median of 3.9%/yr, 26% above it. The picture is mixed rather than uniform: income growth runs ahead of the neighbourhood while unemployment runs behind it, so Buena Vista County, IA is trading one against the other rather than simply out-performing what surrounds it. The counties themselves spread 3.0% on unemployment, so Buena Vista County, IA sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Buena Vista 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buena Vista County, IA | 20,753 | $72,416 #2/6 | 4.9%/yr #2/6 | 5.5% #6/6 | 0.495 #5/6 |
| Clay County, IA | 16,461 | $65,277 | 3.9%/yr | 3.5% | 0.457 |
| Sac County, IA | 9,689 | $73,798 | 5.2%/yr | 4.4% | 0.471 |
| Pocahontas County, IA | 7,046 | $62,002 | 3.7%/yr | 5.4% | 0.500 |
| Cherokee County, IA | 11,600 | $71,162 | 4.2%/yr | 2.5% | 0.475 |
| Ida County, IA | 6,911 | $63,475 | 3.1%/yr | 2.4% | 0.477 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Buena Vista 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 Buena Vista County, Iowa.
How Rich Is Buena Vista County, Iowa?
Buena Vista 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 $72,416, about 4% lower than the Iowa average of $75,133.
Are incomes growing in Buena Vista County, Iowa?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Buena Vista County, Iowa rose 71%, from $42,330 to $72,416. Over the same years, income here outpaced Iowa as a whole: +71% against +56%.
What was the median household income in Buena Vista County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Buena Vista County, Iowa was $66,074, up 8% from $61,244 in 2022. The Iowa median that year was $73,347.
What was the median household income in Buena Vista County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Buena Vista County, Iowa was $53,837. By 2024 it had risen 35% to $72,416.
Is unemployment high in Buena Vista County, Iowa?
Unemployment in Buena Vista County, Iowa is 5.5%, well above the Iowa rate of 3.6%, so job seekers may face more competition than elsewhere.
What is the Gini coefficient in Buena Vista County, Iowa?
The Gini coefficient in Buena Vista County is 0.495. 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 Buena Vista County, Iowa?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Buena Vista County, Iowa has narrowed from about 28% to 13% in 2024. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $2,348 since 2009.
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