Hamilton County, Iowa Income Statistics
Hamilton 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.
-
B
Hamilton County Around average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Hamilton County | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $72,236 | $75,133 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $55,585 | $57,332 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 3.7% | 4.0% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 8.7% | 10.5% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 8.3% | 8.6% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Hamilton County is about 4% lower than in Iowa. Income has been growing slower in Hamilton County (3.7%/yr) than in Iowa (4.0%/yr).
About 9% of adults in Hamilton 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 Hamilton County, Iowa grew by 51.9% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $72,236 in 2024. That's an average of about 3.7% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Hamilton County
| Metric | Hamilton County | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.483 | 0.510 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $65,889 | $66,524 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $51,585 | $52,524 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 21.7% | 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 Hamilton County, it is 0.483, 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 28% more than women's income in Hamilton County, Iowa. Over a 35-year career, a 28% wage gap accumulates to roughly $500,640 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Hamilton County, Iowa has widened from about 19% to 22% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 27% in 2014, and was narrowest at 18% in 2010. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $6,878 since 2009.
Sharply against the trend: the pay gap in Hamilton County widened by 3.0 points while Iowa's narrowed by 3.3 points.
Employment
| Metric | Hamilton County | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8% | 3.6% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 6.1% | 11.3% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 17 | 16 | 22 |
Approximately 374 people are unemployed in Hamilton County, Iowa.
The average commute time in Hamilton County is 17 minutes, longer than the 16 minutes in Iowa.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Hamilton County, Iowa has fallen from 4.9% to 4.8% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 6.6% in 2013 and fell as low as 2.3% in 2017.
Hamilton County, IA Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Hamilton County, IA is the 5th largest of the 6 counties compared here, 14,886 residents against a local median of 26,668. Hamilton County, IA's income growth, at 3.7%/yr, runs 25% below the 5.0%/yr typical of the counties around it. That is the weaker end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread 3.3%/yr on income growth, so Hamilton County, IA sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Hamilton County, IA has the 5th highest income growth 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hamilton County, IA | 14,886 | $72,236 #2/6 | 3.7%/yr #5/6 | 4.8% #6/6 | 0.483 #2/6 |
| Wright County, IA | 12,791 | $67,627 | 5.0%/yr | 1.8% | 0.519 |
| Boone County, IA | 26,668 | $84,575 | 5.5%/yr | 1.5% | 0.477 |
| Story County, IA | 100,466 | $70,594 | 4.0%/yr | 4.8% | 0.571 |
| Hardin County, IA | 16,639 | $64,879 | 2.6%/yr | 4.3% | 0.496 |
| Webster County, IA | 36,886 | $66,913 | 5.9%/yr | 4.8% | 0.518 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Hamilton County, Iowa has an overall wealth index grade of B, making it about on par with Iowa, and somewhat better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Hamilton County, Iowa.
How Rich Is Hamilton County, Iowa?
Hamilton 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 $72,236, about 4% lower than the Iowa average of $75,133.
Are incomes growing in Hamilton County, Iowa?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Hamilton County, Iowa rose 52%, from $47,559 to $72,236. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Iowa as a whole: +52% against +56%.
What was the median household income in Hamilton County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Hamilton County, Iowa was $71,388, up 9% from $65,366 in 2022. The Iowa median that year was $73,347.
What was the median household income in Hamilton County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Hamilton County, Iowa was $60,278. By 2024 it had risen 20% to $72,236.
Is it hard to find a job in Hamilton County, Iowa?
Unemployment in Hamilton County, Iowa is 4.8%, well above the Iowa rate of 3.6%, so job seekers may face more competition than elsewhere.
What is the Gini coefficient in Hamilton County, Iowa?
The Gini coefficient in Hamilton County is 0.483. 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 Hamilton County, Iowa?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Hamilton County, Iowa has widened from about 19% to 22% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 27% in 2014, and was narrowest at 18% in 2010. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $6,878 since 2009.
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