Decatur County, Iowa Income Statistics
Decatur 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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D
Decatur County Well below averageAmong the 3 least wealthy counties in Iowa
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Decatur County | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $58,830 | $75,133 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $48,288 | $57,332 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 5.5% | 4.0% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 4.2% | 10.5% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 3.4% | 8.6% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Decatur County is about 22% lower than in Iowa. Income has been growing faster in Decatur County (5.5%/yr) than in Iowa (4.0%/yr).
About 4% of adults in Decatur 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 Decatur County, Iowa grew by 74.2% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $58,830 in 2024. That's an average of about 5.5% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Decatur County
| Metric | Decatur County | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.507 | 0.510 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $55,413 | $66,524 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $43,575 | $52,524 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 21.4% | 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 Decatur County, it is 0.507, about the same as Iowa's 0.510, so income here is about as evenly distributed as there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 27% more than women's income in Decatur County, Iowa. Over a 35-year career, a 27% wage gap accumulates to roughly $414,330 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Decatur County, Iowa has narrowed from about 24% to 21% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 28% in 2011, and was narrowest at 6% in 2016. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $3,362 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Decatur County | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 1.9% | 3.6% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 6.0% | 11.3% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 15 | 16 | 22 |
Approximately 75 people are unemployed in Decatur County, Iowa.
The average commute time in Decatur County is 15 minutes, shorter than the 16 minutes in Iowa.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Decatur County, Iowa has fallen from 6.7% to 1.9% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 8.6% in 2013.
Decatur County, IA Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Decatur County, IA is the 3rd largest of the 6 counties compared here, 7,759 residents against a local median of 6,531. The measure that sets Decatur County, IA apart most is unemployment: 1.9%, 40% below the local median of 3.2%. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread 1.8% on unemployment, so Decatur County, IA sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Decatur County, IA has the 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Decatur County, IA | 7,759 | $58,830 #5/6 | 5.5%/yr #3/6 | 1.9% #1/6 | 0.507 #4/6 |
| Clarke County, IA | 9,662 | $71,996 | 5.6%/yr | 4.2% | 0.484 |
| Mercer County, MO | 3,482 | $61,611 | 4.7%/yr | 3.5% | 0.529 |
| Harrison County, MO | 8,190 | $54,831 | 3.9%/yr | 2.5% | 0.509 |
| Ringgold County, IA | 4,645 | $72,941 | 5.8%/yr | 3.2% | 0.500 |
| Wayne County, IA | 6,531 | $61,690 | 4.8%/yr | 2.9% | 0.498 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Decatur County, Iowa has an overall wealth index grade of D, making it somewhat worse than Iowa, and somewhat worse than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Decatur County, Iowa.
How Rich Is Decatur County, Iowa?
Decatur County has a wealth index grade of D. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a D grade means residents are somewhat worse off than the U.S. average. The median household income is $58,830, about 22% lower than the Iowa average of $75,133.
Are incomes growing in Decatur County, Iowa?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Decatur County, Iowa rose 74%, from $33,766 to $58,830. Over the same years, income here outpaced Iowa as a whole: +74% against +56%.
What was the median household income in Decatur County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Decatur County, Iowa was $56,010, up 1% from $55,393 in 2022. The Iowa median that year was $73,347.
What was the median household income in Decatur County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Decatur County, Iowa was $48,110. By 2024 it had risen 22% to $58,830.
How strong is the job market in Decatur County, Iowa?
Unemployment in Decatur County, Iowa is only 1.9%, 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 Decatur County, Iowa?
The Gini coefficient in Decatur County is 0.507. 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 Decatur County, Iowa?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Decatur County, Iowa has narrowed from about 24% to 21% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 28% in 2011, and was narrowest at 6% in 2016. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $3,362 since 2009.
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