Plymouth County, Iowa Income Statistics
Plymouth 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
Plymouth County Around averageAmong the top 5 wealthiest counties in Iowa
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Plymouth County | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $83,321 | $75,133 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $57,348 | $57,332 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.1% | 4.0% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 10.2% | 10.5% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 7.6% | 8.6% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Plymouth County is about 11% higher than in Iowa. Income has been growing faster in Plymouth County (4.1%/yr) than in Iowa (4.0%/yr).
About 10% of adults in Plymouth County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, about the same as the Iowa average of 11%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Plymouth County, Iowa grew by 52.8% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $83,321 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.1% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Plymouth County
| Metric | Plymouth County | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.476 | 0.510 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $68,212 | $66,524 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $49,515 | $52,524 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 27.4% | 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 Plymouth County, it is 0.476, 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 38% more than women's income in Plymouth County, Iowa. Over a 35-year career, a 38% wage gap accumulates to roughly $654,395 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Plymouth County, Iowa has narrowed from about 33% to 27% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 19% in 2019. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $3,250 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Plymouth County | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 2.2% | 3.6% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 9.2% | 11.3% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 15 | 16 | 22 |
Approximately 304 people are unemployed in Plymouth County, Iowa.
The average commute time in Plymouth County is 15 minutes, shorter than the 16 minutes in Iowa.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Plymouth County, Iowa has fallen from 2.3% to 2.2% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 3.5% in 2016 and fell as low as 1.8% in 2019.
Plymouth County, IA Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Plymouth County, IA is the 3rd largest of the 6 counties compared here, 25,747 residents against a local median of 21,354. The measure that sets Plymouth County, IA apart most is unemployment: 2.2%, 26% below the local median of 2.9%. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread 3.3% on unemployment, so Plymouth County, IA sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Plymouth County, IA has the 2nd 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plymouth County, IA | 25,747 | $83,321 #3/6 | 4.1%/yr #5/6 | 2.2% #2/6 | 0.476 #2/6 |
| Sioux County, IA | 36,212 | $88,224 | 4.2%/yr | 1.5% | 0.527 |
| Woodbury County, IA | 106,250 | $73,309 | 5.2%/yr | 4.1% | 0.515 |
| Union County, SD | 17,081 | $89,958 | 4.3%/yr | 2.9% | 0.497 |
| Dakota County, NE | 21,354 | $70,667 | 3.9%/yr | 4.8% | 0.491 |
| Cherokee County, IA | 11,600 | $71,162 | 4.2%/yr | 2.5% | 0.475 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Plymouth 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 Plymouth County, Iowa.
How Rich Is Plymouth County, Iowa?
Plymouth 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 $83,321, about 11% higher than the Iowa average of $75,133.
How has median household income changed in Plymouth County, Iowa?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Plymouth County, Iowa rose 53%, from $54,536 to $83,321. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Iowa as a whole: +53% against +56%.
What was the median household income in Plymouth County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Plymouth County, Iowa was $81,918, up 1% from $80,725 in 2022. The Iowa median that year was $73,347.
What was the median household income in Plymouth County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Plymouth County, Iowa was $71,603. By 2024 it had risen 16% to $83,321.
Is unemployment high in Plymouth County, Iowa?
Unemployment in Plymouth 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 Plymouth County, Iowa?
The Gini coefficient in Plymouth County is 0.476. 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 Plymouth County, Iowa?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Plymouth County, Iowa has narrowed from about 33% to 27% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 19% in 2019. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $3,250 since 2009.
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