1st Advantage MortgageAbout 81% of Chickasaw County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $75,675. 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
- Who lives in Chickasaw County
- Income in Chickasaw County compared with Iowa
- How Chickasaw County residents earn a living
- Renting and owning in Chickasaw County
- Chickasaw County and the counties next door
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Chickasaw County
- What a median Chickasaw County budget can carry
- More Chickasaw County figures
- Local borrowing considerations for Chickasaw County
- Checking a lender's license in Iowa
- Checklist for Chickasaw County applicants
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Chickasaw County
With an estimated 11,807 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Chickasaw County ranks 64th of 99 in Iowa for population. Land area is 504 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 23 per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. New Hampton is the biggest of its 8 Census places, at roughly 3,453 people (29% of the county total).
Income in Chickasaw County compared with Iowa
The median household income in Chickasaw County is $75,675, close to the statewide $75,059.
| Household income | Chickasaw County | vs Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 21.2% | +0.1 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 46.6% | +3.7 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 26.0% | -1.4 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 6.2% | -2.4 pts |
The spread is wide: 32% of Chickasaw County households make $100,000 or more, and 21% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 8.8%, 2 points lower than the state's 11.1%. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.413 (0 is perfect equality). For a borrower in Chickasaw 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.
How Chickasaw County residents earn a living
Manufacturing employs 26% of working residents, the largest share; education and health care is next with 21%. The sharpest difference from the state is in manufacturing, at 26% locally and 15% for Iowa. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 1.6% in Chickasaw County. 13% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 10% work from home.
| Where residents work | Chickasaw County | Difference from Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 25.5% | +10.8 pts |
| Education and health care | 20.8% | -3.4 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.9% | -1.6 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 9.9% | +6.2 pts |
| Construction | 6.9% | 0.0 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 5.9% | -1.7 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Renting and owning in Chickasaw County
A typical Chickasaw County rental runs $738 a month including utilities, which is 24% below Iowa. 30% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 12% spend half or more. With a median value of $182,600, a typical Chickasaw County house costs 2.4 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 81%. The median home was built in 1966, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Housing | Chickasaw County | Iowa statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $738/mo | $972/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $182,600 | $208,000 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 81% | 72% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 30% | 44% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 21% | 20% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 10% | 8% | n/a |
Because most Chickasaw 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.
Chickasaw County and the counties next door
Distances run center to center, from Bremer County at 19 miles out to Mitchell County at 31. Income ranges from $60,165 in Fayette County to $86,784 in Bremer County; 2 of these neighbors top Chickasaw County's median.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chickasaw County | - | $75,675 | $738/mo | 81% |
| Bremer County, IA | 19 mi | $86,784 | $921/mo | 80% |
| Howard County, IA | 21 mi | $67,446 | $713/mo | 77% |
| Floyd County, IA | 24 mi | $68,557 | $745/mo | 77% |
| Fayette County, IA | 28 mi | $60,165 | $881/mo | 77% |
| Winneshiek County, IA | 28 mi | $79,066 | $861/mo | 74% |
| Mitchell County, IA | 31 mi | $71,365 | $738/mo | 80% |
Cities, towns and CDPs in Chickasaw County
The table lists the 8 largest of 8 Census places in Chickasaw County, by population. Together all 8 hold about 7,141 people, so roughly 40% of residents live outside any named place. Incomes vary by place: $66,597 at the median in Nashua, $62,870 in New Hampton. None of the 8 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Hampton | city | 3,453 | $62,870 | $743 | 0 mi |
| Nashua | city | 1,622 | $66,597 | $756 | 14 mi |
| Fredericksburg | city | 989 | $65,313 | $735 | 9 mi |
| Lawler | city | 363 | $65,833 | $621 | 8 mi |
| Ionia | city | 336 | $73,945 | $533 | 7 mi |
| Alta Vista | city | 194 | $44,500 | $640 | 11 mi |
| North Washington | city | 134 | $71,964 | n/a | 6 mi |
| Bassett | city | 50 | $62,895 | n/a | 10 mi |
What a median Chickasaw County budget can carry
How much room does a median Chickasaw County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- Monthly gross at the median, Chickasaw County: $6,306
- Rent at the median, $738, takes 12% of that
- $1,974: what a 43% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Two-income households and single earners in Chickasaw County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
More Chickasaw County figures
College graduates make up 21% of the adult population. The uninsured rate is 7.8%, against 5.0% for Iowa.
| Indicator | Chickasaw County | All of Iowa | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.1 | 38.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 21.2% | 31.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 6.3% | 6.7% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 7.8% | 5.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.0% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 10.0% | 11.3% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 8.8% | 11.1% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 1.6% | 3.6% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 48.2% |
| 15 to 29 min | 28.8% |
| 30 to 44 min | 10.3% |
| 45 to 59 min | 6.8% |
| 60+ min | 5.8% |
Local borrowing considerations for Chickasaw County
A few patterns in the Chickasaw County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Check your file. An error fixed before you apply can change the offers a Chickasaw County borrower sees (free reports).
- 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).
Checking a lender's license in Iowa
Before sharing details with a lender, a Chickasaw County resident can confirm its license with the Iowa Division of Banking. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. Statewide data and rules: Iowa guide.
Checklist for Chickasaw County applicants
Before you apply, wherever you live in Chickasaw County:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Chickasaw County-area credit union.
- A Iowa license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Keep a small cushion so one surprise bill does not mean another loan.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Iowa guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Chickasaw County earn?
The median is $75,675; 32% earn $100,000 or more and 21% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
Is Chickasaw County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $738 against $972 statewide, and 30% of renter households are cost-burdened.
I own my home in Chickasaw County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 81% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
Which towns does the Chickasaw County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 8 Census places: New Hampton, Nashua, Fredericksburg, Lawler, Ionia.
Are Chickasaw 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.