1st Advantage MortgageThe median Delaware County household earns $74,989, and 8% of residents live below the poverty line. 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
- A quick profile of Delaware County
- Rent, home values and ownership in Delaware County
- Household income in Delaware County
- How Delaware County residents earn a living
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- Places inside Delaware County
- People and households in Delaware County
- Borrowing situations common in Delaware County
- Budget math at the Delaware County median
- Who licenses lenders for Delaware County residents
- Steps before you apply in Delaware County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Delaware County
Delaware County is home to about 17,558 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 40th most populous of 99 county-level areas in Iowa. It covers 578 square miles of land, or about 30 people per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. The Census Bureau counts 11 places in the county (11 incorporated, 0 census-designated); the largest is Manchester, with about 5,191 residents, or 30% of the county.
Rent, home values and ownership in Delaware County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $764 in Delaware County versus $972 statewide. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 47% of renter households here. With a median value of $177,900, a typical Delaware County house costs 2.4 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 80% of homes.
| Home costs | Delaware County | Iowa | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $764/mo | $972/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $177,900 | $208,000 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 80% | 72% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 47% | 44% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 18% | 20% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 2.9% | 3.2% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 10% | 8% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Delaware County, many borrowers can also choose a home equity loan or line of credit. Those can price lower but put the house on the line, so compare the two in writing; our personal loan vs. HELOC guide walks through it.
Household income in Delaware County
At $74,989, the typical Delaware County household income is 14% above the median U.S. county ($65,681). In the state ranking that is 28th of 99.
| Band | Delaware County | Compared with Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 20.8% | -0.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 46.0% | +3.2 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 26.2% | -1.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 7.0% | -1.6 pts |
The spread is wide: 33% of Delaware County households make $100,000 or more, and 21% make less than $35,000. 7.8% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 11.1%). Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.440 here. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
How Delaware County residents earn a living
The biggest employer of Delaware County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 22% of workers, followed by manufacturing (19%). The sharpest difference from the state is in agriculture, forestry and mining, at 9% locally and 4% for Iowa. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 2.0% in Delaware County. 15% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 9% work from home.
| Where residents work | Delaware County | Difference from Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 21.7% | -2.5 pts |
| Manufacturing | 19.3% | +4.5 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.5% | -1.0 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 9.2% | +5.4 pts |
| Construction | 8.6% | +1.7 pts |
| Other services | 5.2% | +0.8 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Neighboring counties at a glance
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Delaware County's, from 24 to 36 miles away. Buchanan County leads the group on income ($78,236), Fayette County trails ($60,165), and Delaware County out-earns 3 of the six.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delaware County | - | $74,989 | $764/mo | 80% |
| Buchanan County, IA | 24 mi | $78,236 | $848/mo | 82% |
| Dubuque County, IA | 25 mi | $77,630 | $959/mo | 73% |
| Clayton County, IA | 26 mi | $67,242 | $790/mo | 78% |
| Jones County, IA | 27 mi | $73,531 | $784/mo | 81% |
| Linn County, IA | 30 mi | $77,649 | $945/mo | 74% |
| Fayette County, IA | 36 mi | $60,165 | $881/mo | 77% |
Places inside Delaware County
Here are the 11 most populous of the county's 11 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 54% of Delaware County residents live in one of the 11. Incomes vary by place: $76,250 at the median in Earlville, $51,719 in Colesburg. Median rent ranges from $441 in Hopkinton to $1,134 in Edgewood. None of the 11 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manchester | city | 5,191 | $61,191 | $802 | 5 mi |
| Earlville | city | 868 | $76,250 | $787 | 5 mi |
| Edgewood | city | 752 | $61,625 | $1,134 | 12 mi |
| Hopkinton | city | 676 | $71,563 | $441 | 11 mi |
| Colesburg | city | 545 | $51,719 | $508 | 14 mi |
| Delhi | city | 432 | $87,750 | $880 | 3 mi |
| Ryan | city | 346 | $60,625 | $850 | 10 mi |
| Greeley | city | 252 | $49,375 | n/a | 8 mi |
| Dundee | city | 177 | $51,875 | n/a | 12 mi |
| Delaware | city | 138 | $78,750 | $618 | 1 mi |
| Masonville | city | 68 | $50,000 | n/a | 11 mi |
People and households in Delaware County
College graduates make up 23% of the adult population. 3.3% of residents have no health coverage.
| People and households | Delaware County | Iowa | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.4 | 38.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 22.6% | 31.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 6.3% | 6.7% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 3.3% | 5.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 8.5% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 9.2% | 11.3% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 7.8% | 11.1% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.0% | 3.6% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Delaware County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 49.0% |
| 15 to 29 min | 29.2% |
| 30 to 44 min | 7.3% |
| 45 to 59 min | 6.2% |
| 60+ min | 8.3% |
Borrowing situations common in Delaware County
Where the Delaware County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- 47% rent-burdened. A payment on top of high rent needs a cushion; size it with the calculator.
- Know your credit. Review all three bureau reports for free (AnnualCreditReport.com).
- Consolidating cards in Delaware County. Compare the total repaid, not the monthly figure (how).
Budget math at the Delaware County median
Here is the Delaware County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- Median income divided by twelve: $6,249 before taxes
- Less median rent of $764, which is 12% of it
- 40% debt-to-income limit: $1,736 left for all other debt payments
Two-income households and single earners in Delaware County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Who licenses lenders for Delaware County residents
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Delaware County borrowers answers to the Iowa Division of Banking. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. Statewide data and rules: Iowa guide.
Steps before you apply in Delaware County
A short checklist for Delaware County borrowers:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Related local guides
The Iowa guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Delaware County earn?
The median is $74,989; 33% earn $100,000 or more and 21% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
Is Delaware County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $764 against $972 statewide, and 47% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Should Delaware County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 80% of Delaware County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
Does this page cover Manchester?
Yes, along with the other 10 Census places in Delaware County, such as Earlville, Edgewood, Hopkinton.
Can Delaware County residents use the questionnaire?
Yes. It asks the same questions in every Iowa county, lists every requirement up front and does not affect your credit score.