Monroe County, Iowa Income Statistics
Monroe 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
Monroe County Around average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Monroe County | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $70,943 | $75,133 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $53,771 | $57,332 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 5.4% | 4.0% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 7.7% | 10.5% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 3.1% | 8.6% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Monroe County is about 6% lower than in Iowa. Income has been growing faster in Monroe County (5.4%/yr) than in Iowa (4.0%/yr).
About 8% of adults in Monroe 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 Monroe County, Iowa grew by 79.5% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $70,943 in 2024. That's an average of about 5.4% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Monroe County
| Metric | Monroe County | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.490 | 0.510 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $65,470 | $66,524 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $53,136 | $52,524 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 18.8% | 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 Monroe County, it is 0.490, 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 Monroe County, Iowa. Over a 35-year career, a 23% wage gap accumulates to roughly $431,690 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Monroe County, Iowa has narrowed from about 26% to 19% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 29% in 2022, and was narrowest at 7% in 2015. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $1,515 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Monroe County | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 3.1% | 3.6% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 9.0% | 11.3% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 30 | 16 | 22 |
Approximately 114 people are unemployed in Monroe County, Iowa.
The average commute time in Monroe County is 30 minutes, longer than the 16 minutes in Iowa.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Monroe County, Iowa has fallen from 7.9% to 3.1% in 2024. Over that period the rate fell as low as 2.9% in 2023.
Monroe County, IA Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Monroe County, IA is the smallest of the 6 counties compared here, 7,513 residents against a local median of 22,021. The measure that sets Monroe County, IA apart most is income growth: 5.4%/yr, 34% above the local median of 4.1%/yr. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
Unemployment tells the same story from another angle: 3.1% against a local median of 3.9%, 19% below it. Every measure here with a clear better direction points the same way, so Monroe County, IA is not trading one advantage for another, it reads stronger than its neighbours across the board. The counties themselves spread 1.9%/yr on income growth, so Monroe County, IA sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Monroe 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monroe County, IA | 7,513 | $70,943 #3/6 | 5.4%/yr #2/6 | 3.1% #2/6 | 0.490 #1/6 |
| Appanoose County, IA | 12,184 | $55,519 | 4.1%/yr | 3.9% | 0.524 |
| Mahaska County, IA | 22,021 | $71,408 | 4.7%/yr | 3.5% | 0.508 |
| Marion County, IA | 33,642 | $79,418 | 4.0%/yr | 2.2% | 0.512 |
| Lucas County, IA | 8,716 | $64,607 | 3.6%/yr | 5.2% | 0.511 |
| Wapello County, IA | 35,362 | $64,636 | 5.5%/yr | 4.3% | 0.513 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Monroe 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 Monroe County, Iowa.
How Rich Is Monroe County, Iowa?
Monroe 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 $70,943, about 6% lower than the Iowa average of $75,133.
How has median household income changed in Monroe County, Iowa?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Monroe County, Iowa rose 79%, from $39,531 to $70,943. Over the same years, income here outpaced Iowa as a whole: +79% against +56%.
What was the median household income in Monroe County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Monroe County, Iowa was $71,943, down 5% from $75,359 in 2022. The Iowa median that year was $73,347.
What was the median household income in Monroe County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Monroe County, Iowa was $59,846. By 2024 it had risen 19% to $70,943.
What is the Gini coefficient in Monroe County, Iowa?
The Gini coefficient in Monroe County is 0.490. 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 Monroe County, Iowa?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Monroe County, Iowa has narrowed from about 26% to 19% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 29% in 2022, and was narrowest at 7% in 2015. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $1,515 since 2009.
Analyze any area in the US
Get local demographics for any address, aggregated by drive time or radius, on the interactive map.
Explore the map →