1st Advantage MortgageThe median Dallas County household earns $102,379, and 6% of residents live below the poverty line. 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
- Who lives in Dallas County
- How Dallas County residents earn a living
- How much Dallas County households make
- What it costs to live in Dallas County
- Towns and communities in Dallas County
- Counties near Dallas County
- A Dallas County household budget, worked through
- Local borrowing considerations for Dallas County
- Dallas County households compared
- Who licenses lenders for Dallas County residents
- A Dallas County borrower's checklist
- More guides for Dallas County
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Dallas County
Roughly 107,968 residents live in Dallas County, Iowa, 6th by population among the state's 99 counties and county equivalents. Land area is 588 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 184 per square mile. It is one of the counties that make up the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). The Census Bureau counts 13 places in the county (13 incorporated, 0 census-designated); the largest is Waukee, with about 29,236 residents, or 27% of the county.
How Dallas County residents earn a living
The biggest employer of Dallas County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 22% of workers, followed by finance, insurance and real estate (20%). Compared with Iowa, the county leans toward finance, insurance and real estate (20% against 8%). Averaged over the five survey years, 2.3% of the labor force was out of work and looking. 8% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 20% work from home.
| Top industries | Dallas County share | +/- vs Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 22.1% | -2.1 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 19.5% | +11.9 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 12.5% | +4.9 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.8% | -1.7 pts |
| Manufacturing | 8.4% | -6.3 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 5.0% | -2.0 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 Dallas County households make
Half of Dallas County households take in less than $102,379 a year and half take in more, 36% above the Iowa median of $75,059. No county in Iowa posts a higher median.
| Band | Dallas County | Compared with Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 12.3% | -8.8 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 36.9% | -6.0 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 31.3% | +3.8 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 19.6% | +11.0 pts |
The spread is wide: 51% of Dallas County households make $100,000 or more, and 12% make less than $35,000. 6.3% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 11.1%). The Gini index of income inequality is 0.440 (0 is perfect equality). Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
What it costs to live in Dallas County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $1,311 in Dallas County versus $972 statewide. 37% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 15% spend half or more. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $355,600, about 3.5 times the median household income. Owners occupy 69% of homes. Median construction year: 2006.
| Cost | Dallas County | Iowa figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,311/mo | $972/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $355,600 | $208,000 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 69% | 72% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 37% | 44% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 19% | 20% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 2.0% | 3.2% | n/a |
Towns and communities in Dallas County
Here are the 13 most populous of the county's 13 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 49% of Dallas County residents live in one of the 13. Incomes vary by place: $135,139 at the median in Van Meter, $66,094 in Redfield. No Dallas County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 13.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waukee | city | 29,236 | $101,029 | $1,383 | 10 mi |
| Perry | city | 7,985 | $68,910 | $931 | 11 mi |
| Adel | city | 6,430 | $95,250 | $926 | 5 mi |
| Dallas Center | city | 2,161 | $95,854 | $1,120 | 3 mi |
| Granger | city | 1,979 | $112,404 | $843 | 13 mi |
| Van Meter | city | 1,628 | $135,139 | $1,063 | 12 mi |
| De Soto | city | 1,041 | $97,109 | $1,089 | 10 mi |
| Redfield | city | 780 | $66,094 | $832 | 10 mi |
| Dexter | city | 620 | $87,250 | $845 | 15 mi |
| Minburn | city | 354 | $71,042 | $967 | 5 mi |
| Bouton | city | 168 | $76,875 | $1,089 | 12 mi |
| Linden | city | 150 | $107,813 | n/a | 12 mi |
| Dawson | city | 102 | $65,313 | n/a | 14 mi |
Counties near Dallas County
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (24 to 33 miles). None of the six report a higher median household income than Dallas County; Madison County is highest at $90,855 and Greene County lowest at $63,409.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas County | - | $102,379 | $1,311/mo | 69% |
| Guthrie County, IA | 24 mi | $77,711 | $845/mo | 84% |
| Polk County, IA | 24 mi | $83,576 | $1,149/mo | 67% |
| Madison County, IA | 25 mi | $90,855 | $1,036/mo | 80% |
| Boone County, IA | 25 mi | $83,531 | $845/mo | 80% |
| Greene County, IA | 30 mi | $63,409 | $781/mo | 76% |
| Adair County, IA | 33 mi | $68,092 | $799/mo | 74% |
A Dallas County household budget, worked through
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Dallas County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- $8,532 a month: gross income for a household at the Dallas County median
- Median rent: $1,311, or 15 cents of every gross dollar
- With a 36% ceiling, about $1,760 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Two-income households and single earners in Dallas County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Local borrowing considerations for Dallas County
What the Dallas County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Strong incomes, long terms. 51% of Dallas County households earn $100,000+. The risk is a term that outlasts the need.
- Consolidating cards in Dallas County. Compare the total repaid, not the monthly figure (how).
- Fraud. Gift cards, wire transfers or fees to unlock a loan mean walk away (report it).
Dallas County households compared
College graduates make up 51% of the adult population. The uninsured rate is 3.9%, against 5.0% for Iowa.
| Measure | Dallas County | Iowa statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.1 | 38.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 51.5% | 31.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 4.6% | 6.7% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 3.9% | 5.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 2.9% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 20.2% | 11.3% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 6.3% | 11.1% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.3% | 3.6% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 30.3% |
| 15 to 29 min | 46.7% |
| 30 to 44 min | 15.2% |
| 45 to 59 min | 4.9% |
| 60+ min | 2.9% |
Who licenses lenders for Dallas County residents
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Dallas County, check the Iowa Division of Banking. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. More on Iowa: Iowa personal loans.
A Dallas County borrower's checklist
A short checklist for Dallas County borrowers:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Ask a Dallas County credit union about member loans.
More guides for Dallas County
For statewide rules and data, see the Iowa guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Dallas County?
$102,379 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $75,059 for Iowa. It ranks 1st of 99 in the state.
How much is rent in Dallas County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $1,311 a month; 37% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Which towns does the Dallas County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 13 Census places: Waukee, Perry, Adel, Dallas Center, Granger.
Are Dallas 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 Dallas County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Iowa it is the Iowa Division of Banking.