1st Advantage MortgageAbout 82% of Buchanan County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $78,236. 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
- Who lives in Buchanan County
- Jobs and commutes in Buchanan County
- What Buchanan County households earn
- Renting and owning in Buchanan County
- Places inside Buchanan County
- Regional comparison for Buchanan County
- Who lives in Buchanan County, in numbers
- What the numbers mean for Buchanan County borrowers
- What a median Buchanan County budget can carry
- Who licenses lenders for Buchanan County residents
- Four steps for Buchanan County borrowers
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Buchanan County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Buchanan County's population at 20,694; only 30 of Iowa's 99 county-level areas are larger. Land area is 571 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 36 per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Buchanan County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Independence is the biggest of its 11 Census places, at roughly 6,164 people (30% of the county total).
Jobs and commutes in Buchanan County
The biggest employer of Buchanan County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 22% of workers, followed by manufacturing (19%). Manufacturing stands out: 19% of workers here, versus 15% statewide. The survey's unemployment rate for Buchanan County averages 2.8% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 3.6%). About 78% drive to work alone and 14% have trips of 45 minutes or more.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Buchanan County | Gap to Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 22.3% | -1.9 pts |
| Manufacturing | 18.6% | +3.9 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.0% | +0.5 pts |
| Construction | 8.8% | +1.8 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 6.4% | -1.2 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 6.1% | +2.4 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
What Buchanan County households earn
The median household income in Buchanan County is $78,236; statewide it is $75,059, so Buchanan County runs 4% above Iowa as a whole. That places it 17th among Iowa's 99 county-level areas.
| Yearly household income | Buchanan County | Gap to Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 19.4% | -1.8 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 45.4% | +2.6 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 30.1% | +2.6 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.2% | -3.4 pts |
About 19% of households earn under $35,000, while 35% clear $100,000. Census counts 8.6% of Buchanan County residents in poverty, against 11.1% across Iowa. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.385 (0 is perfect equality). For a borrower in Buchanan 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.
Renting and owning in Buchanan County
A typical Buchanan County rental runs $848 a month including utilities, which is 13% below Iowa. By the Census definition, 37% of Buchanan County renters are cost-burdened. With a median value of $176,000, a typical Buchanan County house costs 2.2 times what the median household earns in a year. 82% of Buchanan County households own their home and 18% rent. Half the housing stock was built before 1973.
| Cost | Buchanan County | Iowa figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $848/mo | $972/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $176,000 | $208,000 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 82% | 72% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 37% | 44% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 22% | 20% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 4.0% | 3.2% | n/a |
Because most Buchanan County households own, home repairs are a frequent reason to borrow. An unsecured personal loan leaves the house out of the deal, while a HELOC uses it as collateral.
Places inside Buchanan County
Here are the 11 most populous of the county's 11 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 67% of Buchanan County residents live in one of the 11. Incomes vary by place: $89,712 at the median in Fairbank, $51,964 in Hazleton. Rent is cheapest in Fairbank ($686) and steepest in Winthrop ($1,077). None of the 11 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independence | city | 6,164 | $73,806 | $820 | 3 mi |
| Jesup | city | 2,561 | $89,408 | $933 | 12 mi |
| Fairbank | city | 1,275 | $89,712 | $686 | 16 mi |
| Winthrop | city | 1,040 | $69,792 | $1,077 | 5 mi |
| Hazleton | city | 720 | $51,964 | $794 | 11 mi |
| Quasqueton | city | 703 | $75,000 | $750 | 7 mi |
| Lamont | city | 514 | $61,250 | $936 | 13 mi |
| Rowley | city | 353 | $60,313 | $1,042 | 7 mi |
| Brandon | city | 307 | $61,250 | $1,046 | 14 mi |
| Aurora | city | 214 | $62,656 | $975 | 12 mi |
| Stanley | city | 69 | $70,500 | n/a | 12 mi |
Regional comparison for Buchanan County
Six nearby counties, 24 to 33 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Income ranges from $60,165 in Fayette County to $86,962 in Benton County; 2 of these neighbors top Buchanan County's median.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buchanan County | - | $78,236 | $848/mo | 82% |
| Black Hawk County, IA | 24 mi | $66,417 | $989/mo | 66% |
| Delaware County, IA | 24 mi | $74,989 | $764/mo | 80% |
| Fayette County, IA | 27 mi | $60,165 | $881/mo | 77% |
| Benton County, IA | 28 mi | $86,962 | $826/mo | 85% |
| Linn County, IA | 30 mi | $77,649 | $945/mo | 74% |
| Bremer County, IA | 33 mi | $86,784 | $921/mo | 80% |
Who lives in Buchanan County, in numbers
Degree holders: 22% of adults over 25. 6.7% of residents have no health coverage.
| Buchanan County | Iowa | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.3 | 38.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 22.4% | 31.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 5.9% | 6.7% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 6.7% | 5.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.6% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 8.4% | 11.3% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 8.6% | 11.1% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.8% | 3.6% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Buchanan County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 37.2% |
| 15 to 29 min | 30.5% |
| 30 to 44 min | 18.7% |
| 45 to 59 min | 7.6% |
| 60+ min | 6.1% |
What the numbers mean for Buchanan County borrowers
A few patterns in the Buchanan County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Paperwork. ID, proof of income and a bank account are the basics (requirements).
- Advance-fee offers. No legitimate lender asks a Buchanan County borrower to pay first (scam signs).
- Know your credit. Review all three bureau reports for free (AnnualCreditReport.com).
What a median Buchanan County budget can carry
Buchanan County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- Monthly gross at the median, Buchanan County: $6,520
- Rent at the median, $848, takes 13% of that
- Under a 43% cap, $2,803 total minus rent leaves $1,955
Two-income households and single earners in Buchanan County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Who licenses lenders for Buchanan County residents
The Iowa Division of Banking is the place to verify any lender's Iowa license. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. More on Iowa: Iowa personal loans.
Four steps for Buchanan County borrowers
Quick steps for Buchanan County:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Buchanan County-area credit union.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Iowa guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Buchanan County earn?
The median is $78,236; 35% earn $100,000 or more and 19% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How much is rent in Buchanan County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $848 a month; 37% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
I own my home in Buchanan County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 82% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
Which towns does the Buchanan County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 11 Census places: Independence, Jesup, Fairbank, Winthrop, Hazleton.
Is the fit check different in Buchanan County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.