1st Advantage Mortgage31% of Black Hawk County households earn $100,000 or more; the median is $66,417 (ACS 2020-24). Use those as context only. A lender looks at your own documented income and debts; compare APR and total repaid on every Black Hawk County offer.
On this page
- Who lives in Black Hawk County
- Earnings across Black Hawk County households
- What stands out in Black Hawk County
- What it costs to live in Black Hawk County
- The Black Hawk County job picture
- Counties near Black Hawk County
- Towns and communities in Black Hawk County
- Debt-to-income at Black Hawk County's medians
- Local borrowing considerations for Black Hawk County
- More Black Hawk County figures
- Checklist for Black Hawk County applicants
- Iowa lender licensing
- Keep exploring
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Black Hawk County
Black Hawk County is home to about 131,049 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 5th most populous of 99 county-level areas in Iowa. It covers 566 square miles of land, or about 232 people per square mile. Black Hawk County counts toward the Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA metro in the 2023 OMB delineation, so regional figures for Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA include it. Waterloo is the biggest of its 10 Census places, at roughly 67,008 people (51% of the county total).
Earnings across Black Hawk County households
$66,417 is the median household income for Black Hawk County, set against $75,059 for Iowa. Only 74 Iowa counties post a higher median.
| Income band | Share in Black Hawk County | Difference from Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 23.6% | +2.5 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 45.6% | +2.8 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 24.0% | -3.5 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 6.8% | -1.8 pts |
Some 24% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 31% have six-figure incomes. The poverty rate is 14.9%, 4 points higher than the state's 11.1%. Black Hawk County scores 0.449 on the Gini index, where higher means more unequal incomes. None of these numbers decides a Black Hawk County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
What stands out in Black Hawk County
- Few Iowa counties match Black Hawk County on the share of commutes over 45 minutes: 4% here, 8% for the state, ranking 2nd lowest of 99. Short commutes keep vehicle costs down, which can free up room for savings.
- Few Iowa counties match Black Hawk County on homeownership: 66% here, 72% for the state, ranking 3rd lowest of 99. Many renters means few borrowers have home equity to fall back on.
- Few Iowa counties match Black Hawk County on population: 131,049 here, 3,210,507 for the state, ranking 5th highest of 99. More people usually means more banks and credit unions to compare nearby.
What it costs to live in Black Hawk County
$989 a month is the median gross rent in Black Hawk County, 2% above the state. By the Census definition, 49% of Black Hawk County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $188,900, or 2.8 years of median income. Owners occupy 66% of homes.
| Measure | Black Hawk County | Iowa | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $989/mo | $972/mo | 2% higher |
| Median home value | $188,900 | $208,000 | 9% lower |
| Owners | 66% | 72% | -5.5 pts |
| Rent-burdened renters | 49% | 44% | +5.0 pts |
| Burdened owners | 20% | 20% | -0.7 pts |
| Vacant units | 8% | 8% | -1.0 pts |
The Black Hawk County job picture
Education and health care (24%), manufacturing (17%) and retail trade (13%) lead Black Hawk County's job mix. Relative to Iowa (7%), arts, lodging and food service is 4 points bigger in Black Hawk County (11%). The survey's unemployment rate for Black Hawk County averages 4.6% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 3.6%). 50% of Black Hawk County workers get to work in under 15 minutes, while 4% need 45 or more. 6.3% of households have no vehicle.
| Top industries | Black Hawk County share | +/- vs Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 24.2% | 0.0 pts |
| Manufacturing | 16.6% | +1.9 pts |
| Retail trade | 13.4% | +1.9 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 11.1% | +4.1 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.4% | -0.2 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 5.7% | -1.9 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
Counties near Black Hawk County
Distances run center to center, from Bremer County at 21 miles out to Butler County at 30. Richest neighbor: Grundy County, $87,205. Poorest: Tama County, $70,781. Black Hawk County: $66,417.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black Hawk County | - | $66,417 | $989/mo | 66% |
| Bremer County, IA | 21 mi | $86,784 | $921/mo | 80% |
| Buchanan County, IA | 24 mi | $78,236 | $848/mo | 82% |
| Grundy County, IA | 25 mi | $87,205 | $774/mo | 84% |
| Benton County, IA | 29 mi | $86,962 | $826/mo | 85% |
| Tama County, IA | 30 mi | $70,781 | $872/mo | 76% |
| Butler County, IA | 30 mi | $73,715 | $812/mo | 84% |
Towns and communities in Black Hawk County
10 Census places fall mainly inside Black Hawk County; the 10 biggest are below. They account for 121,343 residents, leaving about 7% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $57,480 in Waterloo to $120,481 in Hudson. Live in one of these Black Hawk County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waterloo | city | 67,008 | $57,480 | $923 | 3 mi |
| Cedar Falls | city | 40,888 | $76,987 | $1,203 | 8 mi |
| Evansdale | city | 4,518 | $60,397 | $979 | 2 mi |
| Hudson | city | 2,699 | $120,481 | $947 | 8 mi |
| La Porte City | city | 2,071 | $70,500 | $955 | 12 mi |
| Elk Run Heights | city | 964 | $76,500 | $1,125 | 3 mi |
| Raymond | city | 899 | $76,711 | $1,125 | 4 mi |
| Dunkerton | city | 821 | $86,413 | $514 | 10 mi |
| Gilbertville | city | 761 | $79,583 | $643 | 6 mi |
| Washburn | CDP | 714 | $61,406 | $985 | 5 mi |
Debt-to-income at Black Hawk County's medians
Black Hawk County's $66,417 median income, run through a debt-to-income check:
- $66,417 a year is $5,535 of gross monthly income
- 18% goes to median rent ($989)
- Under a 36% cap, $1,993 total minus rent leaves $1,004
- 43% debt-to-income limit: $1,391 left for all other debt payments
A household below the $66,417 median has less room than this, often none.
Local borrowing considerations for Black Hawk County
A few patterns in the Black Hawk County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Rent squeeze. 49% of renters spend 30%+ of income on rent; borrow only if the loan cuts what you pay overall.
- Fraud. Gift cards, wire transfers or fees to unlock a loan mean walk away (report it).
- Credit reports. Pull free reports at AnnualCreditReport.com and dispute errors before applying.
More Black Hawk County figures
In Black Hawk County, 30% of adults have at least a four-year degree (31% in Iowa). Uninsured, Black Hawk County: 5.1%; Iowa: 5.0%.
| People and households | Black Hawk County | Compared with Iowa | Compared with median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 14.9% | +3.9 pts | +1.8 pts |
| Median age | 35.7 | -2.9 yrs | -5.8 yrs |
| Work from home | 8.9% | -2.4 pts | +0.2 pts |
| Bachelor's or higher | 30.3% | -1.1 pts | +8.1 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.6% | +1.0 pts | +0.1 pts |
| No vehicle | 6.3% | +0.9 pts | +0.9 pts |
| No high school diploma | 7.1% | +0.3 pts | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.1% | +0.1 pts | -2.8 pts |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 50.3% |
| 15 to 29 min | 40.2% |
| 30 to 44 min | 5.2% |
| 45 to 59 min | 1.7% |
| 60+ min | 2.6% |
Checklist for Black Hawk County applicants
Before you apply, wherever you live in Black Hawk County:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- A Iowa license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Ask a Black Hawk County credit union about member loans.
Iowa lender licensing
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Black Hawk County borrowers answers to the Iowa Division of Banking. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. Statewide data and rules: Iowa guide.
Keep exploring
No city in Black Hawk County has its own guide yet; the state page is next up.
Frequently asked questions
Where does Black Hawk County rank on income in Iowa?
75th of 99, with a median of $66,417. The state median is $75,059.
What do renters pay in Black Hawk County?
$989 a month at the median, about 18% of median household income.
Which towns does the Black Hawk County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 10 Census places: Waterloo, Cedar Falls, Evansdale, Hudson, La Porte City.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Black Hawk County or elsewhere in Iowa, the same rules apply.
Where can someone in Black Hawk County check a lender's license?
With the Iowa Division of Banking. If a lender is unlicensed or asks for a fee before funding, walk away.