Crawford County, IA: income, rent and loan options

A quick profile of Crawford County

Crawford County is home to about 16,277 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 47th most populous of 99 county-level areas in Iowa. Its 714 square miles average 23 people per square mile, by the 2024 Census Gazetteer. Crawford County is classed as nonmetropolitan in the OMB's July 2023 list. Of the 13 Census places inside Crawford County, Denison leads by population with about 8,260; 13 of the 13 are incorporated.

The Crawford County job picture

By the Census industry count, 25% of employed Crawford County residents work in manufacturing and 18% in education and health care. Compared with Iowa, the county leans toward manufacturing (25% against 15%). The survey's unemployment rate for Crawford County averages 3.8% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 3.6%). 7% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 6% work from home. 3.4% of households have no vehicle.

Self-employed in Crawford County? Two years of tax returns usually stand in for pay stubs.

Earnings across Crawford County households

Half of Crawford County households take in less than $67,027 a year and half take in more, 11% below the Iowa median of $75,059.

On the low end, 26% of Crawford County households report under $35,000; at the top, 32% report $100,000-plus. Census counts 14.8% of Crawford County residents in poverty, against 11.1% across Iowa. Crawford County scores 0.428 on the Gini index, where higher means more unequal incomes. For a borrower in Crawford 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.

Crawford County's most unusual numbers

Ranked against the other 98 county-level areas in Iowa, these are the Crawford County figures furthest from the middle.

• Crawford County ranks 7th highest of 99 Iowa counties for the uninsured rate: 8.8%, against 5.0% statewide. Hospital payment plans are usually interest-free; compare before a loan.
• Median age: 37.9 in Crawford County. Only 10 of 99 Iowa counties are lower. A young county means many first-time borrowers; read every fee line.
• Few Iowa counties match Crawford County on the share of adults with a bachelor's degree: 18% here, 31% for the state, ranking 11th lowest of 99. Lenders weigh income and credit, not schooling.
• Few Iowa counties match Crawford County on the poverty rate: 14.8% here, 11.1% for the state, ranking 13th highest of 99. Nonprofit credit counseling is free or low cost and worth a call first.

Rent, home values and ownership in Crawford County

$743 a month is the median gross rent in Crawford County, 24% below the state. By the Census definition, 34% of Crawford County renters are cost-burdened. Crawford County homes are worth $153,700 at the median, a 2.3-to-1 ratio to income. In Crawford County, 76% of occupied homes are owned by the people living in them. Half the housing stock was built before 1968. Nationally, Crawford County's $743 rent is 15% below the middle county.

At a $153,700 median value, many Crawford County owners hold equity. Using it lowers cost only if you can carry the risk (equity vs. unsecured).

Denison and the rest of Crawford County

Places, by size: the top 13 of 13. Roughly 24% of Crawford County lives outside all of them, in open country or unnamed settlements. Gap between richest and poorest larger place: $20,273, Schleswig over Charter Oak. Rent is cheapest in Schleswig ($528) and steepest in Charter Oak ($1,050). Live in one of these Crawford County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.

Regional comparison for Crawford County

Distances run center to center, from Ida County at 25 miles out to Harrison County at 33. Crawford County's $67,027 median trails 5 of the six and beats 1; the range runs $63,073 (Ida County) to $79,535 (Harrison County).

A Crawford County household budget, worked through

The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Crawford County's medians:

• Start: $5,586 gross per month ($67,027 / 12)
• Median rent: $743, or 13 cents of every gross dollar
• With a 35% ceiling, about $1,212 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
• 45% debt-to-income limit: $1,771 left for all other debt payments

Homeowners in Crawford County should swap in their mortgage, taxes and insurance for rent.

Reading the Crawford County data as a borrower

Where the Crawford County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:

• Requirements. Lenders weigh credit history, documented income and existing debt (what to gather).
• Debt consolidation. One fixed payment can save money only if the written APR and fees beat what you pay now (guide).
• Know your credit. Review all three bureau reports for free (AnnualCreditReport.com).

People and households in Crawford County

18% of Crawford County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 8.8%, against 5.0% for Iowa.

A Crawford County borrower's checklist

Before you apply, wherever you live in Crawford County:

• Price the Crawford County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
• Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
• Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
• Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.

Verifying a lender from Crawford County

Consumer lenders serving Crawford County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Iowa that is the Iowa Division of Banking. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender.

More guides for Crawford County

Next step up from Crawford County:

• Iowa state guide