Clarke County, Iowa Income Statistics
Clarke 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
Clarke County Below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Clarke County | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $71,996 | $75,133 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $52,830 | $57,332 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 5.6% | 4.0% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 8.2% | 10.5% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 5.9% | 8.6% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Clarke County is about 4% lower than in Iowa. Income has been growing faster in Clarke County (5.6%/yr) than in Iowa (4.0%/yr).
About 8% of adults in Clarke 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 Clarke County, Iowa grew by 57.4% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $71,996 in 2024. That's an average of about 5.6% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Clarke County
| Metric | Clarke County | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.484 | 0.510 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $60,708 | $66,524 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $44,162 | $52,524 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 27.3% | 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 Clarke County, it is 0.484, 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 37% more than women's income in Clarke County, Iowa. Over a 35-year career, a 37% wage gap accumulates to roughly $579,110 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Clarke County, Iowa has narrowed from about 31% to 27% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 8% in 2018. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $3,689 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Clarke County | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 4.2% | 3.6% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 8.9% | 11.3% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 13 | 16 | 22 |
Approximately 204 people are unemployed in Clarke County, Iowa.
The average commute time in Clarke County is 13 minutes, shorter than the 16 minutes in Iowa.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Clarke County, Iowa has fallen from 5.2% to 4.2% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 5.5% in 2014 and fell as low as 2.1% in 2020.
Clarke County, IA Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Clarke County, IA is the 4th largest of the 6 counties compared here, 9,662 residents against a local median of 11,993. Clarke County, IA's unemployment, at 4.2%, runs 23% above the 3.5% typical of the counties around it. That is the weaker end of the local range on this measure.
Income growth tells the same story from another angle: 5.6%/yr against a local median of 4.5%/yr, 23% above it. The picture is mixed rather than uniform: income growth runs ahead of the neighbourhood while unemployment runs behind it, so Clarke County, IA is trading one against the other rather than simply out-performing what surrounds it. The counties themselves spread 3.2% on unemployment, so Clarke County, IA sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Clarke County, IA has the 5th 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clarke County, IA | 9,662 | $71,996 #3/6 | 5.6%/yr #1/6 | 4.2% #5/6 | 0.484 #2/6 |
| Decatur County, IA | 7,759 | $58,830 | 5.5%/yr | 1.9% | 0.507 |
| Warren County, IA | 54,398 | $95,575 | 4.5%/yr | 3.4% | 0.505 |
| Madison County, IA | 16,926 | $88,339 | 5.0%/yr | 3.5% | 0.482 |
| Union County, IA | 11,993 | $58,088 | 3.0%/yr | 4.0% | 0.511 |
| Lucas County, IA | 8,716 | $64,607 | 3.6%/yr | 5.2% | 0.511 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Clarke 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 Clarke County, Iowa.
How Rich Is Clarke County, Iowa?
Clarke 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 $71,996, about 4% lower than the Iowa average of $75,133.
How has median household income changed in Clarke County, Iowa?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Clarke County, Iowa rose 57%, from $45,729 to $71,996. Over the same years, income here outpaced Iowa as a whole: +57% against +56%.
What was the median household income in Clarke County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Clarke County, Iowa was $68,937, up 7% from $64,197 in 2022. The Iowa median that year was $73,347.
What was the median household income in Clarke County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Clarke County, Iowa was $55,524. By 2024 it had risen 30% to $71,996.
What is the Gini coefficient in Clarke County, Iowa?
The Gini coefficient in Clarke County is 0.484. 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 Clarke County, Iowa?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Clarke County, Iowa has narrowed from about 31% to 27% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 8% in 2018. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $3,689 since 2009.
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