Lee County, Iowa Income Statistics
Lee 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
Lee County Below averageLess wealthy than 91% of counties in Iowa
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Lee County | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $62,330 | $75,133 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $51,852 | $57,332 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.3% | 4.0% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 7.4% | 10.5% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 5.1% | 8.6% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Lee County is about 17% lower than in Iowa. Income has been growing faster in Lee County (4.3%/yr) than in Iowa (4.0%/yr).
About 7% of adults in Lee 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 Lee County, Iowa grew by 50.2% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $62,330 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.3% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Lee County
| Metric | Lee County | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.519 | 0.510 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $60,049 | $66,524 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $49,058 | $52,524 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 18.3% | 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 Lee County, it is 0.519, higher than Iowa's 0.510, so income is less 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 22% more than women's income in Lee County, Iowa. Over a 35-year career, a 22% wage gap accumulates to roughly $384,685 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Lee County, Iowa has narrowed from about 31% to 18% in 2024. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $1,614 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Lee County | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4% | 3.6% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 6.1% | 11.3% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 15 | 16 | 22 |
Approximately 685 people are unemployed in Lee County, Iowa.
The average commute time in Lee County is 15 minutes, shorter than the 16 minutes in Iowa.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Lee County, Iowa has fallen from 8.4% to 4.4% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 8.7% in 2015 and fell as low as 4.0% in 2023.
Lee County, IA Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Lee County, IA is the 2nd largest of the 6 counties compared here, 32,893 residents against a local median of 17,281. Lee County, IA's income growth, at 4.3%/yr, runs 20% above the 3.6%/yr typical of the counties around it. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread 2.3%/yr on income growth, so Lee County, IA sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Lee County, IA has the 2nd 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lee County, IA | 32,893 | $62,330 #4/6 | 4.3%/yr #2/6 | 4.4% #5/6 | 0.519 #3/6 |
| Clark County, MO | 6,675 | $53,489 | 2.3%/yr | 5.0% | 0.531 |
| Henry County, IA | 20,002 | $67,907 | 4.0%/yr | 1.5% | 0.538 |
| Hancock County, IL | 17,281 | $65,991 | 3.5%/yr | 4.2% | 0.514 |
| Des Moines County, IA | 38,487 | $63,600 | 4.6%/yr | 3.1% | 0.499 |
| Van Buren County, IA | 7,241 | $61,403 | 3.6%/yr | 4.1% | 0.534 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Lee County, Iowa has an overall wealth index grade of C, making it somewhat worse than Iowa, and about on par with the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Lee County, Iowa.
How Rich Is Lee County, Iowa?
Lee 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 $62,330, about 17% lower than the Iowa average of $75,133.
How fast is household income rising in Lee County, Iowa?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Lee County, Iowa rose 50%, from $41,498 to $62,330. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Iowa as a whole: +50% against +56%.
What was the median household income in Lee County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Lee County, Iowa was $59,851, up 5% from $57,242 in 2022. The Iowa median that year was $73,347.
What was the median household income in Lee County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Lee County, Iowa was $52,334. By 2024 it had risen 19% to $62,330.
What is the Gini coefficient in Lee County, Iowa?
The Gini coefficient in Lee County is 0.519. 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 Lee County, Iowa?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Lee County, Iowa has narrowed from about 31% to 18% in 2024. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $1,614 since 2009.
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