O'Brien County, Iowa Income Statistics
O'Brien 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
O'Brien County Around average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | O'Brien County | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $69,653 | $75,133 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $52,550 | $57,332 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 3.4% | 4.0% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 7.6% | 10.5% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 4.4% | 8.6% | 13.2% |
The median household income in O'Brien County is about 7% lower than in Iowa. Income has been growing slower in O'Brien County (3.4%/yr) than in Iowa (4.0%/yr).
About 8% of adults in O'Brien 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 O'Brien County, Iowa grew by 60.9% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $69,653 in 2024. That's an average of about 3.4% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in O'Brien County
| Metric | O'Brien County | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.492 | 0.510 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $62,653 | $66,524 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $45,171 | $52,524 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 27.9% | 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 O'Brien County, it is 0.492, 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 39% more than women's income in O'Brien County, Iowa. Over a 35-year career, a 39% wage gap accumulates to roughly $611,870 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in O'Brien County, Iowa has narrowed from about 33% to 28% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 36% in 2011, and was narrowest at 24% in 2016. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $3,477 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | O'Brien County | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 1.0% | 3.6% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 7.1% | 11.3% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 13 | 16 | 22 |
Approximately 72 people are unemployed in O'Brien County, Iowa.
The average commute time in O'Brien County is 13 minutes, shorter than the 16 minutes in Iowa.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in O'Brien County, Iowa has fallen from 2.9% to 1.0% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 3.1% in 2012.
O'Brien County, IA Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
O'Brien County, IA is typical in size for this group, 14,126 residents against a local median of 16,461, so the measures below are close to a like for like comparison. O'Brien County, IA's unemployment, at 1.0%, runs 66% below the 3.0% typical of the counties around it. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
Income growth tells the same story from another angle: 3.4%/yr against a local median of 4.2%/yr, 19% below it. The picture is mixed rather than uniform: unemployment runs ahead of the neighbourhood while income growth runs behind it, so O'Brien County, IA is trading one against the other rather than simply out-performing what surrounds it. The counties themselves spread 2.0% on unemployment, so O'Brien County, IA sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. O'Brien County, IA has the 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| O'Brien County, IA | 14,126 | $69,653 #4/6 | 3.4%/yr #6/6 | 1.0% #1/6 | 0.492 #4/6 |
| Osceola County, IA | 6,100 | $68,181 | 4.4%/yr | 3.4% | 0.499 |
| Cherokee County, IA | 11,600 | $71,162 | 4.2%/yr | 2.5% | 0.475 |
| Clay County, IA | 16,461 | $65,277 | 3.9%/yr | 3.5% | 0.457 |
| Sioux County, IA | 36,212 | $88,224 | 4.2%/yr | 1.5% | 0.527 |
| Dickinson County, IA | 17,990 | $75,709 | 3.4%/yr | 3.0% | 0.470 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, O'Brien 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 O'Brien County, Iowa.
How Wealthy Is O'Brien County, Iowa?
O'Brien 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 $69,653, about 7% lower than the Iowa average of $75,133.
Are incomes growing in O'Brien County, Iowa?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in O'Brien County, Iowa rose 61%, from $43,298 to $69,653. Over the same years, income here outpaced Iowa as a whole: +61% against +56%.
What was the median household income in O'Brien County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in O'Brien County, Iowa was $68,801, up 4% from $66,281 in 2022. The Iowa median that year was $73,347.
What was the median household income in O'Brien County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in O'Brien County, Iowa was $57,785. By 2024 it had risen 21% to $69,653.
How strong is the job market in O'Brien County, Iowa?
Unemployment in O'Brien County, Iowa is only 1.0%, 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 O'Brien County, Iowa?
The Gini coefficient in O'Brien County is 0.492. 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 O'Brien County, Iowa?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in O'Brien County, Iowa has narrowed from about 33% to 28% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 36% in 2011, and was narrowest at 24% in 2016. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $3,477 since 2009.
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