Hardin County, Iowa Income Statistics
Hardin 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
Hardin County Below averageLess wealthy than 77% of counties in Iowa
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Hardin County | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $64,879 | $75,133 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $48,537 | $57,332 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 2.6% | 4.0% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 6.6% | 10.5% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 4.4% | 8.6% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Hardin County is about 14% lower than in Iowa. Income has been growing slower in Hardin County (2.6%/yr) than in Iowa (4.0%/yr).
About 7% of adults in Hardin 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 Hardin County, Iowa grew by 52.5% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $64,879 in 2024. That's an average of about 2.6% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Hardin County
| Metric | Hardin County | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.496 | 0.510 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $54,554 | $66,524 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $48,436 | $52,524 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 11.2% | 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 Hardin County, it is 0.496, 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 13% more than women's income in Hardin County, Iowa. Over a 35-year career, a 13% wage gap accumulates to roughly $214,130 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Hardin County, Iowa has narrowed from about 30% to 11% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 32% in 2010, and was narrowest at 10% in 2023. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $5,617 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Hardin County | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3% | 3.6% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 9.0% | 11.3% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 16 | 16 | 22 |
Approximately 367 people are unemployed in Hardin County, Iowa.
The average commute time in Hardin County is 16 minutes, about the same as in Iowa.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Hardin County, Iowa has fallen from 5.4% to 4.3% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 6.3% in 2014 and fell as low as 1.8% in 2019.
Hardin County, IA Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Hardin County, IA is typical in size for this group, 16,639 residents against a local median of 14,886, so the measures below are close to a like for like comparison. Where Hardin County, IA breaks from the counties next to it is income growth, sitting 31% below the local median of 3.7%/yr at 2.6%/yr. That is the weaker end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread 1.0%/yr on income growth, so Hardin County, IA sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Hardin County, IA has the 6th 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hardin County, IA | 16,639 | $64,879 #5/6 | 2.6%/yr #6/6 | 4.3% #4/6 | 0.496 #4/6 |
| Franklin County, IA | 9,956 | $59,847 | 3.2%/yr | 3.8% | 0.509 |
| Story County, IA | 100,466 | $70,594 | 4.0%/yr | 4.8% | 0.571 |
| Marshall County, IA | 40,114 | $73,385 | 3.7%/yr | 4.3% | 0.492 |
| Grundy County, IA | 12,384 | $85,863 | 4.3%/yr | 2.0% | 0.481 |
| Hamilton County, IA | 14,886 | $72,236 | 3.7%/yr | 4.8% | 0.483 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Hardin 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 Hardin County, Iowa.
How Rich Is Hardin County, Iowa?
Hardin 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 $64,879, about 14% lower than the Iowa average of $75,133.
Are incomes growing in Hardin County, Iowa?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Hardin County, Iowa rose 52%, from $42,544 to $64,879. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Iowa as a whole: +52% against +56%.
What was the median household income in Hardin County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Hardin County, Iowa was $65,417, up 2% from $64,447 in 2022. The Iowa median that year was $73,347.
What was the median household income in Hardin County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Hardin County, Iowa was $55,490. By 2024 it had risen 17% to $64,879.
What is the Gini coefficient in Hardin County, Iowa?
The Gini coefficient in Hardin County is 0.496. 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 Hardin County, Iowa?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Hardin County, Iowa has narrowed from about 30% to 11% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 32% in 2010, and was narrowest at 10% in 2023. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $5,617 since 2009.
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