1st Advantage MortgageIn Dubuque County, Iowa, the typical household earns $77,630 a year and the typical rent is $959. 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
- Dubuque County, IA: the basics
- Rent, home values and ownership in Dubuque County
- Income in Dubuque County compared with Iowa
- The Dubuque County job picture
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- Dubuque County towns compared
- Room for a loan payment in Dubuque County
- Reading the Dubuque County data as a borrower
- Dubuque County households compared
- Checking a lender's license in Iowa
- Steps before you apply in Dubuque County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Dubuque County, IA: the basics
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Dubuque County's population at 99,030; only 8 of Iowa's 99 county-level areas are larger. Land area is 608 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 163 per square mile. For statistical purposes it belongs to the Dubuque, IA metro area, as delineated by the Office of Management and Budget in July 2023. The Census Bureau counts 20 places in the county (20 incorporated, 0 census-designated); the largest is Dubuque, with about 59,174 residents, or 60% of the county.
Rent, home values and ownership in Dubuque County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $959 in Dubuque County versus $972 statewide. 46% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 29% spend half or more. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $237,300, about 3.1 times the median household income. 73% of Dubuque County households own their home and 27% rent. The median home was built in 1970, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Cost | Dubuque County | Iowa figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $959/mo | $972/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $237,300 | $208,000 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 73% | 72% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 46% | 44% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 20% | 20% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 3.2% | 3.2% | 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).
Income in Dubuque County compared with Iowa
Half of Dubuque County households take in less than $77,630 a year and half take in more, 3% above the Iowa median of $75,059. In the state ranking that is 21st of 99.
| Household income | Dubuque County | vs Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 20.4% | -0.7 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 41.9% | -0.9 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 29.3% | +1.8 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 8.4% | -0.2 pts |
Some 20% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 38% have six-figure incomes. The poverty rate is 9.7%, 1 point lower than the state's 11.1%. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.443 here. None of these numbers decides a Dubuque County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
The Dubuque County job picture
By the Census industry count, 25% of employed Dubuque County residents work in education and health care and 17% in manufacturing. The sharpest difference from the state is in manufacturing, at 17% locally and 15% for Iowa. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 3.7% in Dubuque County. 4% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 12% work from home. Households without a car make up 6.1% of the total (5.4% statewide).
| Top industries | Dubuque County share | +/- vs Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 24.8% | +0.6 pts |
| Manufacturing | 17.4% | +2.7 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.7% | +0.2 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 8.4% | +0.8 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.4% | +0.5 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 6.9% | -0.7 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Dubuque County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Neighboring counties at a glance
Six nearby counties, 25 to 35 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Delaware County leads the group on income ($74,989), Grant County trails ($66,858), and Dubuque County out-earns 6 of the six. Some neighbors are in Illinois and Wisconsin. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Dubuque County resident follows Iowa rules.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dubuque County | - | $77,630 | $959/mo | 73% |
| Delaware County, IA | 25 mi | $74,989 | $764/mo | 80% |
| Jackson County, IA | 26 mi | $74,186 | $807/mo | 81% |
| Jones County, IA | 26 mi | $73,531 | $784/mo | 81% |
| Grant County, WI | 30 mi | $66,858 | $813/mo | 70% |
| Clayton County, IA | 35 mi | $67,242 | $790/mo | 78% |
| Jo Daviess County, IL | 35 mi | $73,993 | $825/mo | 80% |
Dubuque County towns compared
20 Census places fall mainly inside Dubuque County; the 14 biggest are below. They account for 79,960 residents, leaving about 19% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $65,845 in Dubuque to $124,957 in Asbury. Rent is cheapest in Cascade ($900) and steepest in Asbury ($1,522). None of the 20 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dubuque | city | 59,174 | $65,845 | $948 | 9 mi |
| Asbury | city | 5,989 | $124,957 | $1,522 | 6 mi |
| Dyersville | city | 4,423 | $83,559 | $1,091 | 12 mi |
| Cascade | city | 2,375 | $69,688 | $900 | 13 mi |
| Peosta | city | 2,040 | $120,833 | $1,056 | 2 mi |
| Epworth | city | 1,894 | $84,271 | $951 | 3 mi |
| Farley | city | 1,889 | $97,143 | $991 | 7 mi |
| Worthington | city | 431 | $97,500 | n/a | 13 mi |
| New Vienna | city | 372 | $93,250 | $733 | 13 mi |
| Holy Cross | city | 280 | $64,375 | $633 | 11 mi |
| Rickardsville | city | 234 | $102,500 | n/a | 8 mi |
| Luxemburg | city | 229 | $83,750 | n/a | 14 mi |
| Sherrill | city | 162 | $84,167 | $1,100 | 11 mi |
| Centralia | city | 117 | $77,500 | $867 | 2 mi |
Room for a loan payment in Dubuque County
Dubuque County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- $6,469 a month: gross income for a household at the Dubuque County median
- Less median rent of $959, which is 15% of it
- $1,823: what a 43% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Reading the Dubuque County data as a borrower
A few patterns in the Dubuque County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Renters under pressure. When 46% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
- Credit reports. Pull free reports at AnnualCreditReport.com and dispute errors before applying.
- Requirements. Lenders weigh credit history, documented income and existing debt (what to gather).
Dubuque County households compared
Degree holders: 33% of adults over 25. The uninsured rate is 3.5%, against 5.0% for Iowa.
| Indicator | Dubuque County | All of Iowa | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.1 | 38.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 33.4% | 31.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 6.1% | 6.7% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 3.5% | 5.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.1% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 12.0% | 11.3% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 9.7% | 11.1% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.7% | 3.6% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Dubuque County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 52.0% |
| 15 to 29 min | 34.9% |
| 30 to 44 min | 8.6% |
| 45 to 59 min | 1.2% |
| 60+ min | 3.2% |
Checking a lender's license in Iowa
Dubuque County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Iowa Division of Banking. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. More on Iowa: Iowa personal loans.
Steps before you apply in Dubuque County
Quick steps for Dubuque County:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Ask a Dubuque County credit union about member loans.
Related local guides
The Iowa guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Dubuque County?
$77,630 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $75,059 for Iowa. It ranks 21st of 99 in the state.
What do renters pay in Dubuque County?
$959 a month at the median, about 15% of median household income.
Should Dubuque County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 73% of Dubuque County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
Which towns does the Dubuque County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 20 Census places: Dubuque, Asbury, Dyersville, Cascade, Peosta.
Can Dubuque 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.