1st Advantage MortgageCherokee County households have a median income of $71,269 and median rent of $758 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- A quick profile of Cherokee County
- How Cherokee County residents earn a living
- How much Cherokee County households make
- Renting and owning in Cherokee County
- Places inside Cherokee County
- The counties around Cherokee County
- Budget math at the Cherokee County median
- Local borrowing considerations for Cherokee County
- Cherokee County households compared
- Lender oversight for Cherokee County
- Before you sign
- More guides for Cherokee County
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Cherokee County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Cherokee County's population at 11,600; only 65 of Iowa's 99 county-level areas are larger. Land area is 577 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 20 per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Cherokee County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Cherokee is the biggest of its 8 Census places, at roughly 5,154 people (44% of the county total).
How Cherokee County residents earn a living
The biggest employer of Cherokee County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 24% of workers, followed by retail trade (19%). The sharpest difference from the state is in retail trade, at 19% locally and 12% for Iowa. Averaged over the five survey years, 2.5% of the labor force was out of work and looking. About 78% drive to work alone and 7% have trips of 45 minutes or more. 5.7% of households have no vehicle.
| Top industries | Cherokee County share | +/- vs Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 23.7% | -0.5 pts |
| Retail trade | 18.8% | +7.3 pts |
| Manufacturing | 12.4% | -2.3 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 9.8% | +6.0 pts |
| Construction | 8.8% | +1.8 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 4.4% | -3.2 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
How much Cherokee County households make
The median household income in Cherokee County is $71,269; statewide it is $75,059, so Cherokee County runs 5% below Iowa as a whole.
| Income band | Share in Cherokee County | Difference from Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 24.2% | +3.1 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 43.3% | +0.4 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 25.2% | -2.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 7.4% | -1.2 pts |
The spread is wide: 33% of Cherokee County households make $100,000 or more, and 24% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 12.1%, 1 point higher than the state's 11.1%. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.451 here. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
Renting and owning in Cherokee County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $758 in Cherokee County versus $972 statewide. 48% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 34% spend half or more. Home values center on $158,700, or 2.2 years of median income. The ownership rate is 76%.
| Home costs | Cherokee County | Iowa | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $758/mo | $972/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $158,700 | $208,000 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 76% | 72% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 48% | 44% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 9% | 20% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 2.5% | 3.2% | 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).
Places inside Cherokee County
8 Census places fall mainly inside Cherokee County; the 8 biggest are below. They account for 8,347 residents, leaving about 28% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Marcus has the highest median household income on the list ($77,981) and Cherokee the lowest ($61,750), counting places with at least 500 residents. Live in one of these Cherokee County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cherokee | city | 5,154 | $61,750 | $728 | 4 mi |
| Marcus | city | 1,180 | $77,981 | $639 | 10 mi |
| Aurelia | city | 991 | $71,500 | $780 | 10 mi |
| Quimby | city | 286 | $54,375 | $643 | 8 mi |
| Cleghorn | city | 271 | $65,625 | $725 | 6 mi |
| Washta | city | 180 | $46,979 | $500 | 12 mi |
| Larrabee | city | 147 | $50,769 | n/a | 9 mi |
| Meriden | city | 138 | $55,333 | $594 | 4 mi |
The counties around Cherokee County
Six nearby counties, 24 to 34 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Plymouth County leads the group on income ($83,251), Ida County trails ($63,073), and Cherokee County out-earns 3 of the six.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cherokee County | - | $71,269 | $758/mo | 76% |
| O'Brien County, IA | 24 mi | $68,356 | $868/mo | 76% |
| Buena Vista County, IA | 25 mi | $71,719 | $894/mo | 73% |
| Ida County, IA | 25 mi | $63,073 | $696/mo | 73% |
| Plymouth County, IA | 30 mi | $83,251 | $910/mo | 74% |
| Woodbury County, IA | 32 mi | $73,658 | $981/mo | 68% |
| Clay County, IA | 34 mi | $65,428 | $811/mo | 73% |
Budget math at the Cherokee County median
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Cherokee County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Median income divided by twelve: $5,939 before taxes
- Less median rent of $758, which is 13% of it
- With a 43% ceiling, about $1,796 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Local borrowing considerations for Cherokee County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Cherokee County borrowers.
- Tight rental budgets. With 48% of Cherokee County renters cost-burdened, test a new payment against a lean month.
- Scams. A fee demanded before funding is a red flag; report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (spotting scams).
- Paperwork. ID, proof of income and a bank account are the basics (requirements).
Cherokee County households compared
College graduates make up 23% of the adult population. The uninsured rate is 4.8%, against 5.0% for Iowa.
| Cherokee County | Iowa | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.0 | 38.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 23.4% | 31.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 6.8% | 6.7% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 4.8% | 5.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.7% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 8.6% | 11.3% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 12.1% | 11.1% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.5% | 3.6% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 54.6% |
| 15 to 29 min | 29.5% |
| 30 to 44 min | 8.6% |
| 45 to 59 min | 1.6% |
| 60+ min | 5.8% |
Lender oversight for Cherokee County
Consumer lenders serving Cherokee County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Iowa that is the Iowa Division of Banking. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. See the Iowa state guide for the statewide picture.
Before you sign
Quick steps for Cherokee County:
- Price the Cherokee County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Ask a Cherokee County credit union about member loans.
More guides for Cherokee County
The Iowa guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is Cherokee County a high-income county?
Its $71,269 median ranks 49th of 99 Iowa counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How does Cherokee County rent compare with Iowa?
$758 locally versus $972 for the state, 22% below.
I live in a small Cherokee County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Cherokee, Marcus, Aurelia, Quimby, Cleghorn and 3 more.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Cherokee County or elsewhere in Iowa, the same rules apply.
Where can someone in Cherokee 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.