Delaware County, Iowa Income Statistics
Delaware 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
Delaware County Around averageWealthier than 87% of counties in Iowa
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Delaware County | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $74,990 | $75,133 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $53,541 | $57,332 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 3.0% | 4.0% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 9.2% | 10.5% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 7.0% | 8.6% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Delaware County is about the same as in Iowa. Income has been growing slower in Delaware County (3.0%/yr) than in Iowa (4.0%/yr).
About 9% of adults in Delaware 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 Delaware County, Iowa grew by 57.4% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $74,990 in 2024. That's an average of about 3.0% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Delaware County
| Metric | Delaware County | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.485 | 0.510 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $63,542 | $66,524 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $51,184 | $52,524 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 19.4% | 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 Delaware County, it is 0.485, 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 24% more than women's income in Delaware County, Iowa. Over a 35-year career, a 24% wage gap accumulates to roughly $432,530 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Delaware County, Iowa has narrowed from about 34% to 19% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 35% in 2010, and was narrowest at 18% in 2023. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $1,821 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Delaware County | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 2.0% | 3.6% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 9.2% | 11.3% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 15 | 16 | 22 |
Approximately 199 people are unemployed in Delaware County, Iowa.
The average commute time in Delaware County is 15 minutes, shorter than the 16 minutes in Iowa.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Delaware County, Iowa has fallen from 3.9% to 2.0% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 4.4% in 2013 and fell as low as 1.7% in 2020.
Delaware County, IA Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Delaware County, IA is the 5th largest of the 6 counties compared here, 17,558 residents against a local median of 20,896. The measure that sets Delaware County, IA apart most is unemployment: 2.0%, 41% below the local median of 3.4%. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
Income growth tells the same story from another angle: 3.0%/yr against a local median of 4.1%/yr, 28% below it. The picture is mixed rather than uniform: unemployment runs ahead of the neighbourhood while income growth runs behind it, so Delaware County, IA is trading one against the other rather than simply out-performing what surrounds it. The counties themselves spread 1.1% on unemployment, so Delaware County, IA sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Delaware 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delaware County, IA | 17,558 | $74,990 #4/6 | 3.0%/yr #6/6 | 2.0% #1/6 | 0.485 #3/6 |
| Clayton County, IA | 17,012 | $67,353 | 4.3%/yr | 2.5% | 0.484 |
| Jones County, IA | 20,896 | $73,384 | 3.6%/yr | 3.5% | 0.509 |
| Linn County, IA | 230,016 | $78,016 | 3.2%/yr | 3.4% | 0.504 |
| Buchanan County, IA | 20,694 | $77,708 | 4.1%/yr | 2.8% | 0.472 |
| Dubuque County, IA | 99,026 | $78,371 | 4.3%/yr | 3.7% | 0.491 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Delaware 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 Delaware County, Iowa.
How Rich Is Delaware County, Iowa?
Delaware 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 $74,990, close to the Iowa average of $75,133.
How fast is household income rising in Delaware County, Iowa?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Delaware County, Iowa rose 57%, from $47,654 to $74,990. Over the same years, income here outpaced Iowa as a whole: +57% against +56%.
What was the median household income in Delaware County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Delaware County, Iowa was $76,116, down 1% from $76,582 in 2022. The Iowa median that year was $73,347.
What was the median household income in Delaware County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Delaware County, Iowa was $63,764. By 2024 it had risen 18% to $74,990.
How strong is the job market in Delaware County, Iowa?
Unemployment in Delaware County, Iowa is only 2.0%, 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 Delaware County, Iowa?
The Gini coefficient in Delaware County is 0.485. 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 Delaware County, Iowa?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Delaware County, Iowa has narrowed from about 34% to 19% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 35% in 2010, and was narrowest at 18% in 2023. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $1,821 since 2009.
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