Palo Alto County, Iowa Income Statistics
Palo Alto 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
Palo Alto County Around average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Palo Alto County | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $71,742 | $75,133 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $48,649 | $57,332 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.9% | 4.0% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 8.5% | 10.5% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 5.8% | 8.6% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Palo Alto County is about 5% lower than in Iowa. Income has been growing faster in Palo Alto County (4.9%/yr) than in Iowa (4.0%/yr).
About 8% of adults in Palo Alto 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 Palo Alto County, Iowa grew by 81.6% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $71,742 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.9% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Palo Alto County
| Metric | Palo Alto County | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.486 | 0.510 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $59,449 | $66,524 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $47,956 | $52,524 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 19.3% | 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 Palo Alto County, it is 0.486, 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 24% more than women's income in Palo Alto County, Iowa. Over a 35-year career, a 24% wage gap accumulates to roughly $402,255 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Palo Alto County, Iowa has narrowed from about 30% to 19% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 33% in 2010. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $304 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Palo Alto County | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 2.2% | 3.6% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 4.9% | 11.3% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 12 | 16 | 22 |
Approximately 105 people are unemployed in Palo Alto County, Iowa.
The average commute time in Palo Alto County is 12 minutes, shorter than the 16 minutes in Iowa.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Palo Alto County, Iowa has fallen from 6.7% to 2.2% in 2024. Over that period the rate fell as low as 1.1% in 2018.
Palo Alto County, IA Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Palo Alto County, IA is the 5th largest of the 6 counties compared here, 8,863 residents against a local median of 14,516. The measure that sets Palo Alto County, IA apart most is income growth: 4.9%/yr, 34% above the local median of 3.7%/yr. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
Unemployment tells the same story from another angle: 2.2% against a local median of 3.0%, 26% below it. Every measure here with a clear better direction points the same way, so Palo Alto County, IA is not trading one advantage for another, it reads stronger than its neighbours across the board. The counties themselves spread 1.5%/yr on income growth, so Palo Alto County, IA sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Palo Alto County, IA has the 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Palo Alto County, IA | 8,863 | $71,742 #2/6 | 4.9%/yr #1/6 | 2.2% #3/6 | 0.486 #5/6 |
| Emmet County, IA | 9,262 | $62,786 | 4.2%/yr | 1.7% | 0.475 |
| Pocahontas County, IA | 7,046 | $62,002 | 3.7%/yr | 5.4% | 0.500 |
| Clay County, IA | 16,461 | $65,277 | 3.9%/yr | 3.5% | 0.457 |
| Kossuth County, IA | 14,516 | $67,165 | 2.6%/yr | 1.9% | 0.481 |
| Dickinson County, IA | 17,990 | $75,709 | 3.4%/yr | 3.0% | 0.470 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Palo Alto 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 Palo Alto County, Iowa.
How Rich Is Palo Alto County, Iowa?
Palo Alto 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 $71,742, about 5% lower than the Iowa average of $75,133.
How has median household income changed in Palo Alto County, Iowa?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Palo Alto County, Iowa rose 82%, from $39,497 to $71,742. Over the same years, income here outpaced Iowa as a whole: +82% against +56%.
What was the median household income in Palo Alto County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Palo Alto County, Iowa was $69,192, up 5% from $66,196 in 2022. The Iowa median that year was $73,347.
What was the median household income in Palo Alto County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Palo Alto County, Iowa was $57,335. By 2024 it had risen 25% to $71,742.
Is unemployment high in Palo Alto County, Iowa?
Unemployment in Palo Alto County, Iowa is only 2.2%, 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 Palo Alto County, Iowa?
The Gini coefficient in Palo Alto County is 0.486. 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 Palo Alto County, Iowa?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Palo Alto County, Iowa has narrowed from about 30% to 19% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 33% in 2010. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $304 since 2009.
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