Tama County, Iowa Income Statistics
Tama 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
Tama County Below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Tama County | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $70,057 | $75,133 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $52,059 | $57,332 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 3.2% | 4.0% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 6.3% | 10.5% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 3.8% | 8.6% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Tama County is about 7% lower than in Iowa. Income has been growing slower in Tama County (3.2%/yr) than in Iowa (4.0%/yr).
About 6% of adults in Tama 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 Tama County, Iowa grew by 53.6% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $70,057 in 2024. That's an average of about 3.2% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Tama County
| Metric | Tama County | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.488 | 0.510 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $60,306 | $66,524 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $48,367 | $52,524 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 19.8% | 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 Tama County, it is 0.488, 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 25% more than women's income in Tama County, Iowa. Over a 35-year career, a 25% wage gap accumulates to roughly $417,865 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Tama County, Iowa has narrowed from about 25% to 20% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 29% in 2013, and was narrowest at 19% in 2023. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $1,956 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Tama County | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8% | 3.6% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 8.7% | 11.3% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 20 | 16 | 22 |
Approximately 318 people are unemployed in Tama County, Iowa.
The average commute time in Tama County is 20 minutes, longer than the 16 minutes in Iowa.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Tama County, Iowa has fallen from 5.1% to 3.8% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 7.1% in 2013 and fell as low as 3.4% in 2019.
Tama County, IA Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Tama County, IA is the 5th largest of the 6 counties compared here, 16,868 residents against a local median of 25,722. Tama County, IA sits close to the middle of its own neighbourhood. No measure below is more than 15% off the local median, so the choice between these counties turns on things this data does not capture.
The largest of those small differences is income growth, 15% below the local median at 3.2%/yr against 3.7%/yr. Tama County, IA has the 6th 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tama County, IA | 16,868 | $70,057 #4/6 | 3.2%/yr #6/6 | 3.8% #4/6 | 0.488 #3/6 |
| Poweshiek County, IA | 18,545 | $68,360 | 3.7%/yr | 3.6% | 0.542 |
| Grundy County, IA | 12,384 | $85,863 | 4.3%/yr | 2.0% | 0.481 |
| Black Hawk County, IA | 130,985 | $66,338 | 3.5%/yr | 4.6% | 0.517 |
| Benton County, IA | 25,722 | $87,152 | 4.5%/yr | 2.0% | 0.484 |
| Marshall County, IA | 40,114 | $73,385 | 3.7%/yr | 4.3% | 0.492 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Tama County, Iowa has an overall wealth index grade of C, making it about on par with Iowa, and about on par with the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Tama County, Iowa.
How Rich Is Tama County, Iowa?
Tama 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 $70,057, about 7% lower than the Iowa average of $75,133.
How has median household income changed in Tama County, Iowa?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Tama County, Iowa rose 54%, from $45,596 to $70,057. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Iowa as a whole: +54% against +56%.
What was the median household income in Tama County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Tama County, Iowa was $67,357, up 4% from $64,648 in 2022. The Iowa median that year was $73,347.
What was the median household income in Tama County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Tama County, Iowa was $55,343. By 2024 it had risen 27% to $70,057.
What is the Gini coefficient in Tama County, Iowa?
The Gini coefficient in Tama County is 0.488. 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 Tama County, Iowa?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Tama County, Iowa has narrowed from about 25% to 20% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 29% in 2013, and was narrowest at 19% in 2023. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $1,956 since 2009.
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