1st Advantage MortgageIn Cass County, Iowa, the typical household earns $63,013 a year and the typical rent is $777. A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's Iowa license first.
On this page
- Cass County by the numbers
- How Cass County residents earn a living
- What Cass County households earn
- Rent, home values and ownership in Cass County
- The counties around Cass County
- Places inside Cass County
- What a median Cass County budget can carry
- Who lives in Cass County, in numbers
- Before borrowing in Cass County
- Before you sign
- Licensing and complaints for Cass County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Cass County by the numbers
Roughly 13,096 residents live in Cass County, Iowa, 58th by population among the state's 99 counties and county equivalents. Land area is 564 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 23 per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Cass County is not part of any metropolitan area. Of the 8 Census places inside Cass County, Atlantic leads by population with about 6,763; 8 of the 8 are incorporated.
How Cass County residents earn a living
The biggest employer of Cass County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 22% of workers, followed by retail trade (16%). The sharpest difference from the state is in retail trade, at 16% locally and 12% for Iowa. Averaged over the five survey years, 1.4% of the labor force was out of work and looking. 8% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 10% work from home.
| Top industries | Cass County share | +/- vs Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 22.0% | -2.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 15.8% | +4.3 pts |
| Manufacturing | 11.4% | -3.3 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 7.3% | +3.6 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.0% | -0.6 pts |
| Construction | 6.8% | -0.2 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
What Cass County households earn
Half of Cass County households take in less than $63,013 a year and half take in more, 16% below the Iowa median of $75,059. Only 83 Iowa counties post a higher median.
| Household income | Cass County | vs Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 29.4% | +8.2 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 39.0% | -3.8 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 25.8% | -1.6 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.8% | -2.8 pts |
About 29% of households earn under $35,000, while 32% clear $100,000. The poverty rate is 14.3%, 3 points higher than the state's 11.1%. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.465 (0 is perfect equality). None of these numbers decides a Cass County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Rent, home values and ownership in Cass County
A typical Cass County rental runs $777 a month including utilities, which is 20% below Iowa. 49% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 29% spend half or more. Home values center on $150,300, or 2.4 years of median income. 72% of Cass County households own their home and 28% rent. The median home was built in 1956, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Cost | Cass County | Iowa figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $777/mo | $972/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $150,300 | $208,000 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 72% | 72% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 49% | 44% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 24% | 20% | n/a |
The counties around Cass County
Distances run center to center, from Adair County at 24 miles out to Pottawattamie County at 32. Pottawattamie County leads the group on income ($73,602), Audubon County trails ($58,229), and Cass County out-earns 1 of the six.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cass County | - | $63,013 | $777/mo | 72% |
| Adair County, IA | 24 mi | $68,092 | $799/mo | 74% |
| Audubon County, IA | 24 mi | $58,229 | $759/mo | 76% |
| Montgomery County, IA | 25 mi | $63,666 | $814/mo | 69% |
| Adams County, IA | 25 mi | $71,875 | $893/mo | 77% |
| Shelby County, IA | 31 mi | $72,738 | $783/mo | 78% |
| Pottawattamie County, IA | 32 mi | $73,602 | $1,018/mo | 70% |
Places inside Cass County
Here are the 8 most populous of the county's 8 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 76% of Cass County residents live in one of the 8. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $55,000 in Griswold to $66,307 in Anita. Rent is cheapest in Anita ($579) and steepest in Griswold ($907). No Cass County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 8.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlantic | city | 6,763 | $61,141 | $764 | 6 mi |
| Griswold | city | 975 | $55,000 | $907 | 13 mi |
| Anita | city | 957 | $66,307 | $579 | 12 mi |
| Lewis | city | 461 | $36,691 | $838 | 8 mi |
| Massena | city | 383 | $61,827 | $584 | 10 mi |
| Cumberland | city | 302 | $47,083 | $838 | 5 mi |
| Marne | city | 98 | $61,875 | $700 | 12 mi |
| Wiota | city | 78 | $78,077 | $1,125 | 5 mi |
What a median Cass County budget can carry
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Cass County's medians:
- Median income divided by twelve: $5,251 before taxes
- Rent at the median, $777, takes 15% of that
- 35% debt-to-income limit: $1,061 left for all other debt payments
- $1,586: what a 45% ratio leaves once rent is paid
If your rent is above $777, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Who lives in Cass County, in numbers
College graduates make up 22% of the adult population. 4.1% of residents have no health coverage.
| People and households | Cass County | Iowa | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.5 | 38.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 22.1% | 31.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 5.5% | 6.7% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 4.1% | 5.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.7% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 10.0% | 11.3% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 14.3% | 11.1% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 1.4% | 3.6% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 61.2% |
| 15 to 29 min | 26.2% |
| 30 to 44 min | 5.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 2.5% |
| 60+ min | 5.1% |
Before borrowing in Cass County
Where the Cass County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Tight rental budgets. With 49% of Cass County renters cost-burdened, test a new payment against a lean month.
- Fraud. Gift cards, wire transfers or fees to unlock a loan mean walk away (report it).
- Debt consolidation. One fixed payment can save money only if the written APR and fees beat what you pay now (guide).
Before you sign
A short checklist for Cass County borrowers:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
Licensing and complaints for Cass County
Cass County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Iowa Division of Banking. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. More on Iowa: Iowa personal loans.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Iowa guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Cass County household make?
About $63,013 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 16% below the Iowa median.
Is Cass County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $777 against $972 statewide, and 49% of renter households are cost-burdened.
I own my home in Cass County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 72% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
I live in a small Cass County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Atlantic, Griswold, Anita, Lewis, Massena and 3 more.
Does living in Cass County change what I qualify for?
Not in our fit check, which uses only the amount, credit range, income and payments you enter, the same for a Cass County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.