Van Buren County, Iowa Income Statistics
Van Buren 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
Van Buren County Below averageAmong the 5 least wealthy counties in Iowa
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Van Buren County | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $61,403 | $75,133 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $51,395 | $57,332 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 3.6% | 4.0% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 6.2% | 10.5% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 5.3% | 8.6% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Van Buren County is about 18% lower than in Iowa. Income has been growing slower in Van Buren County (3.6%/yr) than in Iowa (4.0%/yr).
About 6% of adults in Van Buren 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 Van Buren County, Iowa grew by 45.0% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $61,403 in 2024. That's an average of about 3.6% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Van Buren County
| Metric | Van Buren County | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.534 | 0.510 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $61,427 | $66,524 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $50,710 | $52,524 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 17.4% | 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 Van Buren County, it is 0.534, higher than Iowa's 0.510, so income is less 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 21% more than women's income in Van Buren County, Iowa. Over a 35-year career, a 21% wage gap accumulates to roughly $375,095 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Van Buren County, Iowa has narrowed from about 19% to 17% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 29% in 2016, and was narrowest at 12% in 2023. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $4,102 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Van Buren County | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1% | 3.6% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 12.7% | 11.3% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 20 | 16 | 22 |
Approximately 137 people are unemployed in Van Buren County, Iowa.
The average commute time in Van Buren County is 20 minutes, longer than the 16 minutes in Iowa.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Van Buren County, Iowa has fallen from 8.9% to 4.1% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 9.1% in 2012 and fell as low as 3.7% in 2016.
Van Buren County, IA Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Van Buren County, IA is the 4th largest of the 6 counties compared here, 7,241 residents against a local median of 9,157. Van Buren County, IA's unemployment, at 4.1%, runs 51% above the 2.7% typical of the counties around it. That is the weaker end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread 7.0% on unemployment, so Van Buren County, IA sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Van Buren County, IA has the 4th 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Van Buren County, IA | 7,241 | $61,403 #4/6 | 3.6%/yr #5/6 | 4.1% #4/6 | 0.534 #3/6 |
| Jefferson County, IA | 15,705 | $60,987 | 3.9%/yr | 8.0% | 0.539 |
| Scotland County, MO | 4,686 | $67,842 | 6.8%/yr | 1.0% | 0.544 |
| Clark County, MO | 6,675 | $53,489 | 2.3%/yr | 5.0% | 0.531 |
| Davis County, IA | 9,157 | $76,948 | 5.7%/yr | 2.7% | 0.532 |
| Henry County, IA | 20,002 | $67,907 | 4.0%/yr | 1.5% | 0.538 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Van Buren County, Iowa has an overall wealth index grade of C, making it somewhat worse than Iowa, and about on par with the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Van Buren County, Iowa.
How Rich Is Van Buren County, Iowa?
Van Buren 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 $61,403, about 18% lower than the Iowa average of $75,133.
Are incomes growing in Van Buren County, Iowa?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Van Buren County, Iowa rose 45%, from $42,347 to $61,403. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Iowa as a whole: +45% against +56%.
What was the median household income in Van Buren County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Van Buren County, Iowa was $60,268, up 3% from $58,442 in 2022. The Iowa median that year was $73,347.
What was the median household income in Van Buren County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Van Buren County, Iowa was $49,857. By 2024 it had risen 23% to $61,403.
What is the Gini coefficient in Van Buren County, Iowa?
The Gini coefficient in Van Buren County is 0.534. 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 Van Buren County, Iowa?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Van Buren County, Iowa has narrowed from about 19% to 17% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 29% in 2016, and was narrowest at 12% in 2023. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $4,102 since 2009.
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