1st Advantage MortgageIn Dickinson County, Iowa, the typical household earns $75,432 a year and the typical rent is $922. 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
- Dickinson County at a glance
- Rent, home values and ownership in Dickinson County
- Household income in Dickinson County
- How Dickinson County residents earn a living
- Counties near Dickinson County
- Dickinson County towns compared
- Budget math at the Dickinson County median
- Reading the Dickinson County data as a borrower
- More Dickinson County figures
- Before you sign
- Lender oversight for Dickinson County
- More guides for Dickinson County
- Frequently asked questions
Dickinson County at a glance
With an estimated 17,990 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Dickinson County ranks 39th of 99 in Iowa for population. Spread over 381 square miles, that works out to roughly 47.3 residents per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. The Census Bureau counts 10 places in the county (10 incorporated, 0 census-designated); the largest is Spirit Lake, with about 5,518 residents, or 31% of the county.
Rent, home values and ownership in Dickinson County
A typical Dickinson County rental runs $922 a month including utilities, which is 5% below Iowa. By the Census definition, 39% of Dickinson County renters are cost-burdened. With a median value of $270,700, a typical Dickinson County house costs 3.6 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 77%. Median construction year: 1979.
| Housing | Dickinson County | Iowa statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $922/mo | $972/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $270,700 | $208,000 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 77% | 72% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 39% | 44% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 24% | 20% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 8.9% | 3.2% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 38% | 8% | 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).
Household income in Dickinson County
Dickinson County households have a median income of $75,432 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 27th of 99 in Iowa.
| Band | Dickinson County | Compared with Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 19.3% | -1.8 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 43.6% | +0.8 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 25.6% | -1.9 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 11.4% | +2.9 pts |
About 19% of households earn under $35,000, while 37% clear $100,000. The poverty rate is 7.6%, 4 points lower than the state's 11.1%. If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Dickinson County median.
How Dickinson County residents earn a living
Education and health care employs 21% of working residents, the largest share; manufacturing is next with 21%. Compared with Iowa, the county leans toward manufacturing (21% against 15%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 3.0% in Dickinson County. About 78% drive to work alone and 6% have trips of 45 minutes or more.
| Top industries | Dickinson County share | +/- vs Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 21.4% | -2.8 pts |
| Manufacturing | 20.6% | +5.9 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.6% | -0.9 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.8% | +0.1 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 7.6% | -0.1 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 6.5% | -0.4 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Counties near Dickinson County
Jackson County is closest, 20 miles from center to center; the sixth, Palo Alto County, is 34 miles off. Income ranges from $63,730 in Emmet County to $75,743 in Jackson County; 1 of these neighbors top Dickinson County's median. Some neighbors are in Minnesota. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Dickinson County resident follows Iowa rules.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dickinson County | - | $75,432 | $922/mo | 77% |
| Jackson County, MN | 20 mi | $75,743 | $787/mo | 80% |
| Clay County, IA | 21 mi | $65,428 | $811/mo | 73% |
| Osceola County, IA | 22 mi | $69,239 | $797/mo | 78% |
| Emmet County, IA | 26 mi | $63,730 | $733/mo | 79% |
| O'Brien County, IA | 30 mi | $68,356 | $868/mo | 76% |
| Palo Alto County, IA | 34 mi | $72,781 | $638/mo | 77% |
Dickinson County towns compared
Here are the 10 most populous of the county's 10 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 76% of Dickinson County residents live in one of the 10. Incomes vary by place: $86,833 at the median in Arnolds Park, $63,369 in Milford. Rent is cheapest in Arnolds Park ($485) and steepest in Okoboji ($942). No Dickinson County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 10.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spirit Lake | city | 5,518 | $65,720 | $911 | 5 mi |
| Milford | city | 3,311 | $63,369 | $887 | 4 mi |
| Lake Park | city | 1,184 | $74,500 | $872 | 8 mi |
| Okoboji | city | 969 | $73,000 | $942 | 3 mi |
| Arnolds Park | city | 922 | $86,833 | $485 | 4 mi |
| Orleans | city | 527 | $74,750 | n/a | 7 mi |
| Wahpeton | city | 443 | $107,917 | $850 | 2 mi |
| West Okoboji | city | 418 | $66,250 | $2,000 | 3 mi |
| Terril | city | 290 | $43,889 | $625 | 13 mi |
| Superior | city | 111 | $75,625 | n/a | 13 mi |
Budget math at the Dickinson County median
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Dickinson County's medians:
- $75,432 a year is $6,286 of gross monthly income
- Less median rent of $922, which is 15% of it
- With a 36% ceiling, about $1,341 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.
Reading the Dickinson County data as a borrower
What the Dickinson County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Retirees. At a median age of 48.7, many borrowers here rely on award letters as proof of income; favor no prepayment penalty.
- Scams. A fee demanded before funding is a red flag; report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (spotting scams).
- Requirements. Lenders weigh credit history, documented income and existing debt (what to gather).
More Dickinson County figures
Degree holders: 31% of adults over 25. About 3% go without health insurance.
| People and households | Dickinson County | Iowa | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.7 | 38.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 31.2% | 31.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 3.1% | 6.7% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 2.6% | 5.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.4% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 10.5% | 11.3% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 7.6% | 11.1% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.0% | 3.6% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 50.4% |
| 15 to 29 min | 33.1% |
| 30 to 44 min | 10.6% |
| 45 to 59 min | 3.2% |
| 60+ min | 2.7% |
Before you sign
Quick steps for Dickinson County:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- A Iowa license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Ask a Dickinson County credit union about member loans.
Lender oversight for Dickinson County
The Iowa Division of Banking is the place to verify any lender's Iowa license. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. See the Iowa state guide for the statewide picture.
More guides for Dickinson County
For statewide rules and data, see the Iowa guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Dickinson County earn?
The median is $75,432; 37% earn $100,000 or more and 19% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
What do renters pay in Dickinson County?
$922 a month at the median, about 15% of median household income.
I own my home in Dickinson County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 77% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
What are the biggest places in Dickinson County?
By population: Spirit Lake, Milford, Lake Park, Okoboji, Arnolds Park. The county has 10 Census places in all.
Can Dickinson 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.