Dubuque County, Iowa Income Statistics
Dubuque 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
Dubuque County Around averageWealthier than 71% of counties in Iowa
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Dubuque County | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $78,371 | $75,133 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $56,482 | $57,332 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.3% | 4.0% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 9.7% | 10.5% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 8.4% | 8.6% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Dubuque County is about 4% higher than in Iowa. Income has been growing faster in Dubuque County (4.3%/yr) than in Iowa (4.0%/yr).
About 10% of adults in Dubuque 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 Dubuque County, Iowa grew by 80.5% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $78,371 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.3% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Dubuque County
| Metric | Dubuque County | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.491 | 0.510 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $66,244 | $66,524 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $52,964 | $52,524 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 20.0% | 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 Dubuque County, it is 0.491, 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 25% more than women's income in Dubuque County, Iowa. Over a 35-year career, a 25% wage gap accumulates to roughly $464,800 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Dubuque County, Iowa has narrowed from about 25% to 20% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 27% in 2019. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $3,435 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Dubuque County | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% | 3.6% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 12.0% | 11.3% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 13 | 16 | 22 |
Approximately 1,945 people are unemployed in Dubuque County, Iowa.
The average commute time in Dubuque County is 13 minutes, shorter than the 16 minutes in Iowa.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Dubuque County, Iowa has fallen from 5.0% to 3.7% in 2024.
Dubuque County, IA Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Dubuque County, IA is the largest of the 6 counties compared here, 99,026 residents against a local median of 19,390. Where Dubuque County, IA breaks from the counties next to it is unemployment, sitting 18% above the local median of 3.1% at 3.7%. That is the weaker end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread 3.0% on unemployment, so Dubuque County, IA sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Dubuque 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dubuque County, IA | 99,026 | $78,371 #1/6 | 4.3%/yr #2/6 | 3.7% #5/6 | 0.491 #3/6 |
| Jones County, IA | 20,896 | $73,384 | 3.6%/yr | 3.5% | 0.509 |
| Jackson County, IA | 19,390 | $74,513 | 5.4%/yr | 5.1% | 0.501 |
| Grant County, WI | 51,770 | $67,366 | 4.1%/yr | 3.1% | 0.522 |
| Delaware County, IA | 17,558 | $74,990 | 3.0%/yr | 2.0% | 0.485 |
| Clayton County, IA | 17,012 | $67,353 | 4.3%/yr | 2.5% | 0.484 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Dubuque 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 Dubuque County, Iowa.
How Rich Is Dubuque County, Iowa?
Dubuque 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 $78,371, about 4% higher than the Iowa average of $75,133.
How fast is household income rising in Dubuque County, Iowa?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Dubuque County, Iowa rose 81%, from $43,417 to $78,371. Over the same years, income here outpaced Iowa as a whole: +81% against +56%.
What was the median household income in Dubuque County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Dubuque County, Iowa was $75,813, up 3% from $73,573 in 2022. The Iowa median that year was $73,347.
What was the median household income in Dubuque County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Dubuque County, Iowa was $65,182. By 2024 it had risen 20% to $78,371.
What is the Gini coefficient in Dubuque County, Iowa?
The Gini coefficient in Dubuque County is 0.491. 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 Dubuque County, Iowa?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Dubuque County, Iowa has narrowed from about 25% to 20% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 27% in 2019. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $3,435 since 2009.
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