Howard County, Iowa Income Statistics
Howard 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
Howard County Around averageWealthier than 70% of counties in Iowa
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Howard County | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $68,882 | $75,133 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $47,197 | $57,332 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.3% | 4.0% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 6.3% | 10.5% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 4.8% | 8.6% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Howard County is about 8% lower than in Iowa. Income has been growing faster in Howard County (4.3%/yr) than in Iowa (4.0%/yr).
About 6% of adults in Howard 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 Howard County, Iowa grew by 54.7% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $68,882 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.3% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Howard County
| Metric | Howard County | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.480 | 0.510 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $53,858 | $66,524 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $43,850 | $52,524 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 18.6% | 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 Howard County, it is 0.480, 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 23% more than women's income in Howard County, Iowa. Over a 35-year career, a 23% wage gap accumulates to roughly $350,280 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Howard County, Iowa has narrowed from about 29% to 19% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 18% in 2018. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $1,146 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Howard County | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 1.9% | 3.6% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 10.0% | 11.3% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 15 | 16 | 22 |
Approximately 88 people are unemployed in Howard County, Iowa.
The average commute time in Howard County is 15 minutes, shorter than the 16 minutes in Iowa.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Howard County, Iowa has fallen from 3.7% to 1.9% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 4.9% in 2013 and fell as low as 1.5% in 2022.
Howard County, IA Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Howard County, IA is the smallest of the 6 counties compared here, 9,445 residents against a local median of 19,872. The measure that sets Howard County, IA apart most is unemployment: 1.9%, 20% below the local median of 2.3%. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread 2.7% on unemployment, so Howard County, IA sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Howard County, IA has the 3rd 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Howard County, IA | 9,445 | $68,882 #6/6 | 4.3%/yr #4/6 | 1.9% #3/6 | 0.480 #3/6 |
| Chickasaw County, IA | 11,807 | $75,831 | 5.9%/yr | 1.6% | 0.468 |
| Fillmore County, MN | 21,414 | $78,803 | 4.7%/yr | 2.7% | 0.478 |
| Mitchell County, IA | 10,577 | $72,056 | 4.0%/yr | 1.2% | 0.498 |
| Winneshiek County, IA | 19,872 | $78,049 | 4.0%/yr | 2.3% | 0.507 |
| Mower County, MN | 40,341 | $72,820 | 4.3%/yr | 3.9% | 0.491 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Howard 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 Howard County, Iowa.
How Rich Is Howard County, Iowa?
Howard 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 $68,882, about 8% lower than the Iowa average of $75,133.
How has median household income changed in Howard County, Iowa?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Howard County, Iowa rose 55%, from $44,532 to $68,882. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Iowa as a whole: +55% against +56%.
What was the median household income in Howard County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Howard County, Iowa was $68,350, up 6% from $64,375 in 2022. The Iowa median that year was $73,347.
What was the median household income in Howard County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Howard County, Iowa was $57,158. By 2024 it had risen 21% to $68,882.
Is it hard to find a job in Howard County, Iowa?
Unemployment in Howard 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 Howard County, Iowa?
The Gini coefficient in Howard County is 0.480. 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 Howard County, Iowa?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Howard County, Iowa has narrowed from about 29% to 19% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 18% in 2018. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $1,146 since 2009.
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