1st Advantage MortgageIn Grundy County, Iowa, the typical household earns $87,205 a year and the typical rent is $774. Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- Getting oriented in Grundy County
- Paychecks and income spread in Grundy County
- How Grundy County residents earn a living
- Renting and owning in Grundy County
- The communities that make up Grundy County
- Grundy County next to its neighbors
- Who lives in Grundy County, in numbers
- Local borrowing considerations for Grundy County
- A Grundy County household budget, worked through
- Four steps for Grundy County borrowers
- Who licenses lenders for Grundy County residents
- More guides for Grundy County
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Grundy County
Grundy County is home to about 12,384 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 60th most populous of 99 county-level areas in Iowa. Spread over 502 square miles, that works out to roughly 24.7 residents per square mile. It is one of the counties that make up the Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). The Census Bureau counts 9 places in the county (9 incorporated, 0 census-designated); the largest is Grundy Center, with about 2,809 residents, or 23% of the county.
Paychecks and income spread in Grundy County
Grundy County households have a median income of $87,205 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 5th of 99 in Iowa.
| Household income | Grundy County | vs Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 18.3% | -2.8 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 40.8% | -2.0 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 32.1% | +4.6 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 8.8% | +0.2 pts |
About 18% of households earn under $35,000, while 41% clear $100,000. 6.5% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 11.1%). Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.394 here. None of these numbers decides a Grundy County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
How Grundy County residents earn a living
Education and health care employs 28% of working residents, the largest share; manufacturing is next with 13%. Compared with Iowa, the county leans toward agriculture, forestry and mining (9% against 4%). The survey's unemployment rate for Grundy County averages 2.0% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 3.6%). 11% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 9% work from home. Only 3.2% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Top industries | Grundy County share | +/- vs Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 28.0% | +3.8 pts |
| Manufacturing | 13.2% | -1.5 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 9.3% | +5.6 pts |
| Construction | 8.6% | +1.7 pts |
| Retail trade | 8.2% | -3.3 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 7.1% | -0.5 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Renting and owning in Grundy County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $774 in Grundy County versus $972 statewide. By the Census definition, 27% of Grundy County renters are cost-burdened. With a median value of $198,800, a typical Grundy County house costs 2.3 times what the median household earns in a year. 84% of Grundy County households own their home and 16% rent. The median home was built in 1962, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Housing | Grundy County | Iowa statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $774/mo | $972/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $198,800 | $208,000 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 84% | 72% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 27% | 44% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 20% | 20% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 2.9% | 3.2% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 7% | 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).
The communities that make up Grundy County
9 Census places fall mainly inside Grundy County; the 9 biggest are below. They account for 8,597 residents, leaving about 31% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Dike has the highest median household income on the list ($91,146) and Wellsburg the lowest ($64,375), counting places with at least 500 residents. Rent is cheapest in Wellsburg ($584) and steepest in Conrad ($840). Live in one of these Grundy County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grundy Center | city | 2,809 | $80,357 | n/a | 3 mi |
| Reinbeck | city | 1,715 | $86,797 | $747 | 11 mi |
| Dike | city | 1,365 | $91,146 | $711 | 9 mi |
| Conrad | city | 1,191 | $73,292 | $840 | 13 mi |
| Wellsburg | city | 673 | $64,375 | $584 | 7 mi |
| Holland | city | 327 | $72,788 | $1,087 | 0 mi |
| Stout | city | 296 | $82,500 | $1,528 | 9 mi |
| Beaman | city | 125 | $80,000 | $785 | 13 mi |
| Morrison | city | 96 | $66,250 | n/a | 7 mi |
Grundy County next to its neighbors
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (23 to 34 miles). Butler County leads the group on income ($73,715), Franklin County trails ($59,894), and Grundy County out-earns 6 of the six.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grundy County | - | $87,205 | $774/mo | 84% |
| Butler County, IA | 23 mi | $73,715 | $812/mo | 84% |
| Hardin County, IA | 23 mi | $65,069 | $795/mo | 74% |
| Black Hawk County, IA | 25 mi | $66,417 | $989/mo | 66% |
| Tama County, IA | 26 mi | $70,781 | $872/mo | 76% |
| Marshall County, IA | 27 mi | $73,315 | $885/mo | 75% |
| Franklin County, IA | 34 mi | $59,894 | $696/mo | 72% |
Who lives in Grundy County, in numbers
28% of Grundy County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 4% go without health insurance.
| Grundy County | Iowa | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.9 | 38.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 27.8% | 31.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 3.1% | 6.7% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 3.8% | 5.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.2% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 9.5% | 11.3% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 6.5% | 11.1% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.0% | 3.6% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Grundy County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 32.2% |
| 15 to 29 min | 34.4% |
| 30 to 44 min | 22.5% |
| 45 to 59 min | 6.5% |
| 60+ min | 4.4% |
Local borrowing considerations for Grundy County
Based on the Grundy County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Consolidation math. With 41% at six figures, card consolidation is common; it pays only if total cost falls (guide).
- Check your file. An error fixed before you apply can change the offers a Grundy County borrower sees (free reports).
- Advance-fee offers. No legitimate lender asks a Grundy County borrower to pay first (scam signs).
A Grundy County household budget, worked through
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Grundy County's medians:
- Median income divided by twelve: $7,267 before taxes
- Housing at the median rent of $774 uses 11%
- With a 35% ceiling, about $1,769 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
- $2,496: what a 45% 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.
Four steps for Grundy County borrowers
Steps that save money for Grundy County residents:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Iowa borrowers.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
Who licenses lenders for Grundy County residents
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Grundy County, check the Iowa Division of Banking. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. Statewide data and rules: Iowa guide.
More guides for Grundy County
The Iowa guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is Grundy County a high-income county?
Its $87,205 median ranks 5th of 99 Iowa counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How much is rent in Grundy County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $774 a month; 27% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
What are the biggest places in Grundy County?
By population: Grundy Center, Reinbeck, Dike, Conrad, Wellsburg. The county has 9 Census places in all.
Can Grundy 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.
Where can someone in Grundy County check a lender's license?
With the Iowa Division of Banking. If a lender is unlicensed or asks for a fee before funding, walk away.