1st Advantage MortgageThe median Appanoose County household earns $54,934, and 17% of residents live below the poverty line. Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- Getting oriented in Appanoose County
- Appanoose County housing compared with Iowa
- Employment and commuting in Appanoose County
- How Appanoose County ranks in Iowa
- How much Appanoose County households make
- How Appanoose County compares with nearby counties
- Census places in Appanoose County
- What the numbers mean for Appanoose County borrowers
- Appanoose County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Room for a loan payment in Appanoose County
- Lender oversight for Appanoose County
- Steps before you apply in Appanoose County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Appanoose County
Roughly 12,184 residents live in Appanoose County, Iowa, 61st by population among the state's 99 counties and county equivalents. Appanoose County spans 497 square miles; with 12,184 people, that is 24.5 per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Appanoose County is not part of any metropolitan area. The Census Bureau counts 10 places in the county (10 incorporated, 0 census-designated); the largest is Centerville, with about 5,372 residents, or 44% of the county.
Appanoose County housing compared with Iowa
$784 a month is the median gross rent in Appanoose County, 19% below the state. About 5 in 10 Appanoose County renters pay 30% or more of income for rent. Median value $124,200; median income $54,934; ratio 2.3. 69% of Appanoose County households own their home and 31% rent. The median home was built in 1964, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills. Nationally, Appanoose County's $784 rent is 11% below the middle county.
| Appanoose County | Iowa | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vacant units | 18% | 8% | +9.1 pts |
| Burdened owners | 25% | 20% | +4.2 pts |
| Median home value | $124,200 | $208,000 | 40% lower |
| Owners | 69% | 72% | -2.9 pts |
| Rent-burdened renters | 46% | 44% | +2.6 pts |
| Median gross rent | $784/mo | $972/mo | 19% lower |
| Mobile homes | 4.8% | 3.2% | +1.6 pts |
Employment and commuting in Appanoose County
Top Appanoose County industry by residents employed: education and health care, 26%; second, manufacturing, 18%. Transportation, warehousing and utilities stands out: 9% of workers here, versus 5% statewide. Unemployment in Appanoose County, ACS five-year: 3.9%; Iowa: 3.6%. About 77% drive to work alone and 14% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Households without a car make up 6.9% of the total (5.4% statewide).
| Where residents work | Appanoose County | Difference from Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 25.6% | +1.4 pts |
| Manufacturing | 17.6% | +2.8 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.7% | -0.8 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 9.2% | +4.0 pts |
| Construction | 7.8% | +0.9 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 5.1% | -2.6 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
How Appanoose County ranks in Iowa
- Appanoose County ranks the lowest of 99 Iowa counties for the share of households earning $100,000 or more: 20%, against 36% statewide. Few six-figure households means smaller loans are the norm.
- Appanoose County ranks 2nd highest of 99 Iowa counties for the poverty rate: 17.5%, against 11.1% statewide. Free help, such as utility and rent assistance, should come before any loan.
- Appanoose County ranks the lowest of 99 Iowa counties for median household income: $54,934, against $75,059 statewide. Where incomes run low, free assistance and credit-union small-dollar loans deserve a look first.
How much Appanoose County households make
Half of Appanoose County households take in less than $54,934 a year and half take in more, 27% below the Iowa median of $75,059. In the state ranking that is 99th of 99.
| Yearly household income | Appanoose County | Gap to Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 33.0% | +11.9 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 46.8% | +4.0 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 17.6% | -9.9 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 2.6% | -6.0 pts |
Six-figure households (20%) are outnumbered by those under $35,000 (33%) in Appanoose County. Appanoose County counts about 2,132 residents below the poverty line, 17.5% of the population. For a borrower in Appanoose County, the county median is only context: a lender looks at the income you can document, so pay stubs, benefit letters or tax returns matter more than any average.
How Appanoose County compares with nearby counties
Monroe County is closest, 20 miles from center to center; the sixth, Lucas County, is 31 miles off. Davis County leads the group on income ($77,194), Schuyler County trails ($61,205), and Appanoose County out-earns 0 of the six. The list crosses into Missouri, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Appanoose County | - | $54,934 | $784/mo | 69% |
| Monroe County, IA | 20 mi | $70,996 | $798/mo | 81% |
| Putnam County, MO | 20 mi | $63,510 | $521/mo | 83% |
| Wayne County, IA | 24 mi | $61,964 | $659/mo | 81% |
| Davis County, IA | 24 mi | $77,194 | $868/mo | 83% |
| Schuyler County, MO | 27 mi | $61,205 | $382/mo | 80% |
| Lucas County, IA | 31 mi | $61,793 | $709/mo | 79% |
Census places in Appanoose County
Here are the 10 most populous of the county's 10 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 54% of Appanoose County residents live in one of the 10. From Centerville to the smallest crossroads, Appanoose County residents share this guide.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Centerville | city | 5,372 | $46,563 | $755 | 1 mi |
| Moulton | city | 498 | $66,250 | $644 | 11 mi |
| Cincinnati | city | 229 | $45,625 | $850 | 8 mi |
| Mystic | city | 216 | $41,000 | $469 | 4 mi |
| Unionville | city | 78 | $82,813 | n/a | 11 mi |
| Exline | city | 73 | $43,750 | $930 | 7 mi |
| Numa | city | 58 | $63,125 | n/a | 7 mi |
| Plano | city | 39 | $63,750 | n/a | 9 mi |
| Rathbun | city | 30 | $71,875 | n/a | 4 mi |
| Udell | city | 13 | $90,000 | n/a | 7 mi |
What the numbers mean for Appanoose County borrowers
Based on the Appanoose County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Rent squeeze. 46% of renters spend 30%+ of income on rent; borrow only if the loan cuts what you pay overall.
- Know your credit. Review all three bureau reports for free (AnnualCreditReport.com).
- Paperwork. ID, proof of income and a bank account are the basics (requirements).
Appanoose County residents: age, schooling, coverage
20% of Appanoose County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 9.0%, against 5.0% for Iowa.
| Appanoose County | vs Iowa | vs U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's or higher | 20.5% | -10.9 pts | -1.7 pts |
| Poverty rate | 17.5% | +6.4 pts | +4.3 pts |
| Median age | 43.5 | +4.9 yrs | +2.0 yrs |
| No health insurance | 9.0% | +4.0 pts | +1.2 pts |
| No high school diploma | 10.2% | +3.5 pts | n/a |
| Work from home | 8.5% | -2.8 pts | -0.1 pts |
| No vehicle | 6.9% | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.9% | +0.3 pts | -0.6 pts |
| One-way commute | Share of Appanoose County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 47.5% |
| 15 to 29 min | 25.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 13.7% |
| 45 to 59 min | 6.5% |
| 60+ min | 7.2% |
Room for a loan payment in Appanoose County
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Appanoose County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- $54,934 a year is $4,578 of gross monthly income
- Rent at the median, $784, takes 17% of that
- At 35%, room after rent is $818 a month
- $1,276: what a 45% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Lender oversight for Appanoose County
The Iowa Division of Banking is the place to verify any lender's Iowa license. If a Appanoose County lender ignores a dispute, the CFPB complaint portal is the federal backstop.
Steps before you apply in Appanoose County
A short checklist for Appanoose County borrowers:
- Price the Appanoose County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Related local guides
Statewide:
Frequently asked questions
Is $54,934 a good income in Appanoose County?
It is the county median, so half of Appanoose County households earn more and half less; 20% earn $100,000 or more.
What do renters pay in Appanoose County?
$784 a month at the median, about 17% of median household income.
I live in a small Appanoose County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Centerville, Moulton, Cincinnati, Mystic, Unionville and 5 more.
Is the fit check different in Appanoose County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Appanoose County?
Start with the Iowa Division of Banking, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.