Calhoun County, Iowa Income Statistics
Calhoun 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
Calhoun County Below averageLess wealthy than 88% of counties in Iowa
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Calhoun County | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $65,135 | $75,133 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $51,781 | $57,332 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.9% | 4.0% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 8.5% | 10.5% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 5.9% | 8.6% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Calhoun County is about 13% lower than in Iowa. Income has been growing faster in Calhoun County (4.9%/yr) than in Iowa (4.0%/yr).
About 8% of adults in Calhoun 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 Calhoun County, Iowa grew by 62.5% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $65,135 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.9% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Calhoun County
| Metric | Calhoun County | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.523 | 0.510 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $63,435 | $66,524 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $46,234 | $52,524 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 27.1% | 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 Calhoun County, it is 0.523, 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 37% more than women's income in Calhoun County, Iowa. Over a 35-year career, a 37% wage gap accumulates to roughly $602,035 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Calhoun County, Iowa has widened from about 25% to 27% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 34% in 2018. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $6,975 since 2009.
Sharply against the trend: the pay gap in Calhoun County widened by 2.1 points while Iowa's narrowed by 3.3 points.
Employment
| Metric | Calhoun County | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 2.6% | 3.6% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 7.6% | 11.3% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 18 | 16 | 22 |
Approximately 114 people are unemployed in Calhoun County, Iowa.
The average commute time in Calhoun County is 18 minutes, longer than the 16 minutes in Iowa.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Calhoun County, Iowa has fallen from 3.9% to 2.6% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 4.4% in 2014 and fell as low as 2.2% in 2018.
Calhoun County, IA Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Calhoun County, IA is typical in size for this group, 9,803 residents against a local median of 9,689, so the measures below are close to a like for like comparison. Calhoun County, IA's unemployment, at 2.6%, runs 42% below the 4.4% typical of the counties around it. That is the better 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. Every measure here with a clear better direction points the same way, so Calhoun County, IA is not trading one advantage for another, it reads stronger than its neighbours across the board. The counties themselves spread 3.6% on unemployment, so Calhoun County, IA sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Calhoun County, IA has the 3rd 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Calhoun County, IA | 9,803 | $65,135 #4/6 | 4.9%/yr #3/6 | 2.6% #3/6 | 0.523 #6/6 |
| Pocahontas County, IA | 7,046 | $62,002 | 3.7%/yr | 5.4% | 0.500 |
| Carroll County, IA | 20,594 | $71,378 | 3.8%/yr | 1.8% | 0.495 |
| Greene County, IA | 8,689 | $64,725 | 3.9%/yr | 2.3% | 0.498 |
| Webster County, IA | 36,886 | $66,913 | 5.9%/yr | 4.8% | 0.518 |
| Sac County, IA | 9,689 | $73,798 | 5.2%/yr | 4.4% | 0.471 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Calhoun 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 Calhoun County, Iowa.
How Rich Is Calhoun County, Iowa?
Calhoun 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 $65,135, about 13% lower than the Iowa average of $75,133.
How has median household income changed in Calhoun County, Iowa?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Calhoun County, Iowa rose 62%, from $40,094 to $65,135. Over the same years, income here outpaced Iowa as a whole: +62% against +56%.
What was the median household income in Calhoun County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Calhoun County, Iowa was $66,252, up 2% from $65,250 in 2022. The Iowa median that year was $73,347.
What was the median household income in Calhoun County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Calhoun County, Iowa was $54,023. By 2024 it had risen 21% to $65,135.
Is it hard to find a job in Calhoun County, Iowa?
Unemployment in Calhoun County, Iowa is only 2.6%, 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 Calhoun County, Iowa?
The Gini coefficient in Calhoun County is 0.523. 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 Calhoun County, Iowa?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Calhoun County, Iowa has widened from about 25% to 27% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 34% in 2018. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $6,975 since 2009.
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