Cherokee County, Iowa Income Statistics
Cherokee 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
Cherokee County Around averageWealthier than 73% of counties in Iowa
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Cherokee County | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $71,162 | $75,133 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $52,554 | $57,332 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.2% | 4.0% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 9.0% | 10.5% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 7.4% | 8.6% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Cherokee County is about 5% lower than in Iowa. Income has been growing faster in Cherokee County (4.2%/yr) than in Iowa (4.0%/yr).
About 9% of adults in Cherokee 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 Cherokee County, Iowa grew by 62.7% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $71,162 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.2% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Cherokee County
| Metric | Cherokee County | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.475 | 0.510 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $60,962 | $66,524 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $46,310 | $52,524 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 24.0% | 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 Cherokee County, it is 0.475, 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 32% more than women's income in Cherokee County, Iowa. Over a 35-year career, a 32% wage gap accumulates to roughly $512,820 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Cherokee County, Iowa has narrowed from about 30% to 24% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 32% in 2021, and was narrowest at 23% in 2017. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $2,662 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Cherokee County | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 2.5% | 3.6% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 8.6% | 11.3% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 12 | 16 | 22 |
Approximately 153 people are unemployed in Cherokee County, Iowa.
The average commute time in Cherokee County is 12 minutes, shorter than the 16 minutes in Iowa.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Cherokee County, Iowa has fallen from 3.3% to 2.5% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 4.4% in 2013 and fell as low as 2.3% in 2018.
Cherokee County, IA Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Cherokee County, IA is the 5th largest of the 6 counties compared here, 11,600 residents against a local median of 16,461. Where Cherokee County, IA breaks from the counties next to it is unemployment, sitting 29% below the local median of 3.5% at 2.5%. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread 4.5% on unemployment, so Cherokee County, IA sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Cherokee 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cherokee County, IA | 11,600 | $71,162 #3/6 | 4.2%/yr #3/6 | 2.5% #3/6 | 0.475 #2/6 |
| O'Brien County, IA | 14,126 | $69,653 | 3.4%/yr | 1.0% | 0.492 |
| Ida County, IA | 6,911 | $63,475 | 3.1%/yr | 2.4% | 0.477 |
| Buena Vista County, IA | 20,753 | $72,416 | 4.9%/yr | 5.5% | 0.495 |
| Woodbury County, IA | 106,250 | $73,309 | 5.2%/yr | 4.1% | 0.515 |
| Clay County, IA | 16,461 | $65,277 | 3.9%/yr | 3.5% | 0.457 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Cherokee 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 Cherokee County, Iowa.
How Rich Is Cherokee County, Iowa?
Cherokee 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 $71,162, about 5% lower than the Iowa average of $75,133.
Are incomes growing in Cherokee County, Iowa?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Cherokee County, Iowa rose 63%, from $43,726 to $71,162. Over the same years, income here outpaced Iowa as a whole: +63% against +56%.
What was the median household income in Cherokee County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Cherokee County, Iowa was $65,068, up 1% from $64,279 in 2022. The Iowa median that year was $73,347.
What was the median household income in Cherokee County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Cherokee County, Iowa was $57,043. By 2024 it had risen 25% to $71,162.
Is it hard to find a job in Cherokee County, Iowa?
Unemployment in Cherokee County, Iowa is only 2.5%, 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 Cherokee County, Iowa?
The Gini coefficient in Cherokee County is 0.475. 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 Cherokee County, Iowa?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Cherokee County, Iowa has narrowed from about 30% to 24% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 32% in 2021, and was narrowest at 23% in 2017. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $2,662 since 2009.
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