1st Advantage MortgageCedar County households have a median income of $80,602 and median rent of $879 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). Whatever your own numbers, compare written offers on APR, fees and total cost, and verify the lender is licensed in Iowa before sharing details.
On this page
- Who lives in Cedar County
- Renting and owning in Cedar County
- How much Cedar County households make
- How Cedar County residents earn a living
- How Cedar County compares with nearby counties
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Cedar County
- People and households in Cedar County
- Reading the Cedar County data as a borrower
- A Cedar County household budget, worked through
- Iowa rules that apply in Cedar County
- Steps before you apply in Cedar County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Cedar County
With an estimated 18,349 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Cedar County ranks 38th of 99 in Iowa for population. Land area is 579 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 32 per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. The Census Bureau counts 8 places in the county (6 incorporated, 2 census-designated); the largest is Tipton, with about 3,106 residents, or 17% of the county.
Renting and owning in Cedar County
Renters in Cedar County pay a median of $879 a month, 10% below the Iowa figure of $972. By the Census definition, 50% of Cedar County renters are cost-burdened. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $211,300, about 2.6 times the median household income. 81% of Cedar County households own their home and 19% rent. The median home was built in 1965, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Measure | Cedar County | Iowa | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $879/mo | $972/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $211,300 | $208,000 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 81% | 72% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 50% | 44% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 18% | 20% | n/a |
Owners with equity have a second option. Weigh a secured line against an unsecured loan by risk as well as cost before you choose (how they compare).
How much Cedar County households make
Half of Cedar County households take in less than $80,602 a year and half take in more, 7% above the Iowa median of $75,059.
| Yearly household income | Cedar County | Gap to Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 17.4% | -3.7 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 44.5% | +1.6 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 31.5% | +4.0 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 6.6% | -1.9 pts |
The spread is wide: 38% of Cedar County households make $100,000 or more, and 17% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 7.3%, 4 points lower than the state's 11.1%. If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Cedar County median.
How Cedar County residents earn a living
Education and health care employs 22% of working residents, the largest share; manufacturing is next with 15%. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 2.3% in Cedar County. 18% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 12% work from home.
| Top industries | Cedar County share | +/- vs Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 22.4% | -1.8 pts |
| Manufacturing | 15.4% | +0.7 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.8% | +1.3 pts |
| Construction | 8.9% | +2.0 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 6.6% | +1.5 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 6.4% | -1.2 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
How Cedar County compares with nearby counties
Distances run center to center, from Muscatine County at 20 miles out to Clinton County at 32. None of the six report a higher median household income than Cedar County; Scott County is highest at $78,277 and Clinton County lowest at $66,981.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cedar County | - | $80,602 | $879/mo | 81% |
| Muscatine County, IA | 20 mi | $69,396 | $971/mo | 74% |
| Jones County, IA | 24 mi | $73,531 | $784/mo | 81% |
| Johnson County, IA | 25 mi | $74,935 | $1,122/mo | 59% |
| Scott County, IA | 28 mi | $78,277 | $1,005/mo | 70% |
| Linn County, IA | 32 mi | $77,649 | $945/mo | 74% |
| Clinton County, IA | 32 mi | $66,981 | $850/mo | 75% |
Cities, towns and CDPs in Cedar 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 38% of Cedar County residents live in one of the 8. Incomes vary by place: $70,000 at the median in Mechanicsville, $56,118 in Lowden. Median rent ranges from $839 in Lowden to $945 in Stanwood. Live in one of these Cedar County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tipton | city | 3,106 | $61,115 | $845 | 0 mi |
| Clarence | city | 1,166 | $56,250 | $888 | 9 mi |
| Mechanicsville | city | 964 | $70,000 | n/a | 11 mi |
| Lowden | city | 699 | $56,118 | $839 | 12 mi |
| Stanwood | city | 533 | $63,264 | $945 | 8 mi |
| Bennett | city | 390 | $69,375 | $886 | 9 mi |
| Rochester | CDP | 90 | n/a | n/a | 7 mi |
| Downey | CDP | 59 | n/a | n/a | 16 mi |
CDP: census-designated place, an unincorporated community mapped for statistics.
People and households in Cedar County
24% of Cedar County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 4.2%, against 5.0% for Iowa.
| Cedar County | Iowa | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.0 | 38.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 23.7% | 31.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 4.3% | 6.7% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 4.2% | 5.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 2.6% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 12.1% | 11.3% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 7.3% | 11.1% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.3% | 3.6% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 28.2% |
| 15 to 29 min | 28.3% |
| 30 to 44 min | 25.7% |
| 45 to 59 min | 12.1% |
| 60+ min | 5.7% |
Reading the Cedar County data as a borrower
What the Cedar County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Tight rental budgets. With 50% of Cedar County renters cost-burdened, test a new payment against a lean month.
- Know your credit. Review all three bureau reports for free (AnnualCreditReport.com).
- Getting ready. Gather pay stubs or benefit letters before you apply (checklist).
A Cedar County household budget, worked through
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Cedar County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Median income divided by twelve: $6,717 before taxes
- Median rent: $879, or 13 cents of every gross dollar
- Under a 36% cap, $2,418 total minus rent leaves $1,539
- With a 43% ceiling, about $2,009 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Cedar County's.
Iowa rules that apply in Cedar County
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Cedar County borrowers answers to the Iowa Division of Banking. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. More on Iowa: Iowa personal loans.
Steps before you apply in Cedar County
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Cedar County.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
Related local guides
The Iowa guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is Cedar County a high-income county?
Its $80,602 median ranks 12th of 99 Iowa counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How does Cedar County rent compare with Iowa?
$879 locally versus $972 for the state, 10% below.
Does this page cover Tipton?
Yes, along with the other 7 Census places in Cedar County, such as Clarence, Mechanicsville, Lowden.
Are Cedar County applicants treated differently?
No. Everyone answers the same questions and is screened on the same objective points; lending partners set their own criteria under fair-lending laws.
Is there a Cedar County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Iowa it is the Iowa Division of Banking.