1st Advantage MortgageIn Buena Vista County, Iowa, the typical household earns $71,719 a year and the typical rent is $894. 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
- Buena Vista County, IA: the basics
- Housing costs in Buena Vista County
- What Buena Vista County households earn
- How Buena Vista County residents earn a living
- Places inside Buena Vista County
- Buena Vista County next to its neighbors
- What a median Buena Vista County budget can carry
- Who lives in Buena Vista County, in numbers
- Before borrowing in Buena Vista County
- Licensing and complaints for Buena Vista County
- A Buena Vista County borrower's checklist
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Buena Vista County, IA: the basics
Roughly 20,753 residents live in Buena Vista County, Iowa, 30th by population among the state's 99 counties and county equivalents. Spread over 575 square miles, that works out to roughly 36.1 residents per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. The Census Bureau counts 10 places in the county (10 incorporated, 0 census-designated); the largest is Storm Lake, with about 11,428 residents, or 55% of the county.
Housing costs in Buena Vista County
A typical Buena Vista County rental runs $894 a month including utilities, which is 8% below Iowa. By the Census definition, 30% of Buena Vista County renters are cost-burdened. With a median value of $159,500, a typical Buena Vista County house costs 2.2 times what the median household earns in a year. 73% of Buena Vista County households own their home and 27% rent. Half the housing stock was built before 1964.
| Measure | Buena Vista County | Iowa | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $894/mo | $972/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $159,500 | $208,000 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 73% | 72% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 30% | 44% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 17% | 20% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 2.3% | 3.2% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 9% | 8% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Buena Vista County, many borrowers can also choose a home equity loan or line of credit. Those can price lower but put the house on the line, so compare the two in writing; our personal loan vs. HELOC guide walks through it.
What Buena Vista County households earn
Half of Buena Vista County households take in less than $71,719 a year and half take in more, 4% below the Iowa median of $75,059.
| Band | Buena Vista County | Compared with Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 17.9% | -3.2 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 48.7% | +5.8 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 26.8% | -0.7 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 6.7% | -1.9 pts |
About 18% of households earn under $35,000, while 33% clear $100,000. The poverty rate is 7.8%, 3 points lower than the state's 11.1%. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.422 (0 is perfect equality). Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
How Buena Vista County residents earn a living
By the Census industry count, 32% of employed Buena Vista County residents work in manufacturing and 20% in education and health care. Manufacturing stands out: 32% of workers here, versus 15% statewide. Averaged over the five survey years, 5.5% of the labor force was out of work and looking. 5% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 6% work from home. 1.7% of households have no vehicle.
| Sector | Buena Vista County | Compared with Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 32.4% | +17.7 pts |
| Education and health care | 20.4% | -3.8 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.5% | 0.0 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 6.3% | +2.6 pts |
| Construction | 5.6% | -1.3 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 4.7% | -2.9 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
Places inside Buena Vista 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 84% of Buena Vista County residents live in one of the 10. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $60,000 in Sioux Rapids to $106,250 in Lakeside. Median rent ranges from $637 in Sioux Rapids to $1,206 in Lakeside. This guide covers each of the 10 places and the rural areas around them.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Storm Lake | city | 11,428 | $62,765 | $898 | 7 mi |
| Alta | city | 2,250 | $65,833 | $894 | 10 mi |
| Newell | city | 944 | $66,667 | $825 | 11 mi |
| Albert City | city | 722 | $80,972 | $784 | 10 mi |
| Sioux Rapids | city | 722 | $60,000 | $637 | 10 mi |
| Lakeside | city | 563 | $106,250 | $1,206 | 9 mi |
| Marathon | city | 234 | $39,375 | $775 | 11 mi |
| Linn Grove | city | 215 | $62,250 | n/a | 12 mi |
| Truesdale | city | 187 | $100,076 | $1,102 | 2 mi |
| Rembrandt | city | 157 | $58,438 | $675 | 6 mi |
Buena Vista County next to its neighbors
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (23 to 33 miles). Sac County leads the group on income ($73,838), Pocahontas County trails ($61,875), and Buena Vista County out-earns 4 of the six.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buena Vista County | - | $71,719 | $894/mo | 73% |
| Clay County, IA | 23 mi | $65,428 | $811/mo | 73% |
| Pocahontas County, IA | 24 mi | $61,875 | $832/mo | 77% |
| Sac County, IA | 25 mi | $73,838 | $722/mo | 78% |
| Cherokee County, IA | 25 mi | $71,269 | $758/mo | 76% |
| Ida County, IA | 31 mi | $63,073 | $696/mo | 73% |
| Palo Alto County, IA | 33 mi | $72,781 | $638/mo | 77% |
What a median Buena Vista County budget can carry
Buena Vista County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- Median income divided by twelve: $5,977 before taxes
- Housing at the median rent of $894 uses 15%
- With a 36% ceiling, about $1,258 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Two-income households and single earners in Buena Vista County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Who lives in Buena Vista County, in numbers
22% of Buena Vista County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. 6.2% of residents have no health coverage.
| People and households | Buena Vista County | Iowa | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.6 | 38.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 22.2% | 31.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 18.7% | 6.7% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 6.2% | 5.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 1.7% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 5.6% | 11.3% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 7.8% | 11.1% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.5% | 3.6% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Buena Vista County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 67.3% |
| 15 to 29 min | 21.1% |
| 30 to 44 min | 6.9% |
| 45 to 59 min | 2.2% |
| 60+ min | 2.5% |
Before borrowing in Buena Vista County
A few patterns in the Buena Vista County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Getting ready. Gather pay stubs or benefit letters before you apply (checklist).
- Know your credit. Review all three bureau reports for free (AnnualCreditReport.com).
- Combining balances. It helps when total cost falls and the cards stay paid down (consolidation).
Licensing and complaints for Buena Vista County
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Buena Vista County borrowers answers to the Iowa Division of Banking. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. More on Iowa: Iowa personal loans.
A Buena Vista County borrower's checklist
Before you apply, wherever you live in Buena Vista County:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- A Iowa license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Ask a Buena Vista County credit union about member loans.
Related local guides
The Iowa guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Buena Vista County earn?
The median is $71,719; 33% earn $100,000 or more and 18% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How does Buena Vista County rent compare with Iowa?
$894 locally versus $972 for the state, 8% below.
What are the biggest places in Buena Vista County?
By population: Storm Lake, Alta, Newell, Albert City, Sioux Rapids. The county has 10 Census places in all.
Is the fit check different in Buena Vista County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Buena Vista County?
Start with the Iowa Division of Banking, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.