1st Advantage MortgageThe median Guthrie County household earns $77,711, and 10% 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
- Getting oriented in Guthrie County
- Renting and owning in Guthrie County
- Paychecks and income spread in Guthrie County
- Employment and commuting in Guthrie County
- Counties near Guthrie County
- Guthrie County towns compared
- Budget math at the Guthrie County median
- What the numbers mean for Guthrie County borrowers
- More Guthrie County figures
- Iowa rules that apply in Guthrie County
- Checklist for Guthrie County applicants
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Guthrie County
Guthrie County is home to about 10,688 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 67th most populous of 99 county-level areas in Iowa. Spread over 591 square miles, that works out to roughly 18.1 residents per square mile. The federal metro definitions (OMB, July 2023) place it in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metropolitan area. The Census Bureau counts 11 places in the county (9 incorporated, 2 census-designated); the largest is Guthrie Center, with about 1,689 residents, or 16% of the county.
Renting and owning in Guthrie County
A typical Guthrie County rental runs $845 a month including utilities, which is 13% below Iowa. By the Census definition, 43% of Guthrie County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $180,100, or 2.3 years of median income. Owners occupy 84% of homes. The median home was built in 1968, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Guthrie County | Iowa | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $845/mo | $972/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $180,100 | $208,000 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 84% | 72% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 43% | 44% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 22% | 20% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 1.6% | 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).
Paychecks and income spread in Guthrie County
Guthrie County households have a median income of $77,711 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 19th of 99 in Iowa.
| Household income | Guthrie County | vs Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 20.4% | -0.7 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 42.2% | -0.7 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 28.2% | +0.7 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 9.3% | +0.7 pts |
Some 20% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 37% have six-figure incomes. Census counts 9.9% of Guthrie County residents in poverty, against 11.1% across Iowa. For a borrower in Guthrie County, the county median is only context: a lender looks at the income you can document, so pay stubs, benefit letters or tax returns matter more than any average.
Employment and commuting in Guthrie County
The biggest employer of Guthrie County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 21% of workers, followed by finance, insurance and real estate (10%). Compared with Iowa, the county leans toward agriculture, forestry and mining (7% against 4%). The survey's unemployment rate for Guthrie County averages 3.2% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 3.6%). Long commutes are common here: 22% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. 4.0% of households have no vehicle.
| Sector | Guthrie County | Compared with Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 21.3% | -2.9 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 10.4% | +2.8 pts |
| Manufacturing | 10.1% | -4.6 pts |
| Construction | 9.8% | +2.9 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.8% | -1.7 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 8.0% | +0.4 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Guthrie County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Counties near Guthrie County
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Guthrie County's, from 21 to 33 miles away. Income ranges from $58,229 in Audubon County to $102,379 in Dallas County; 1 of these neighbors top Guthrie County's median.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guthrie County | - | $77,711 | $845/mo | 84% |
| Audubon County, IA | 21 mi | $58,229 | $759/mo | 76% |
| Dallas County, IA | 24 mi | $102,379 | $1,311/mo | 69% |
| Adair County, IA | 25 mi | $68,092 | $799/mo | 74% |
| Greene County, IA | 25 mi | $63,409 | $781/mo | 76% |
| Carroll County, IA | 31 mi | $72,930 | $731/mo | 77% |
| Cass County, IA | 33 mi | $63,013 | $777/mo | 72% |
Guthrie County towns compared
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 68% of Guthrie County residents live in one of the 11. Incomes vary by place: $126,563 at the median in Lake Panorama, $54,550 in Adair. Median rent ranges from $868 in Guthrie Center to $1,040 in Panora. No Guthrie County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 11.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guthrie Center | city | 1,689 | $71,116 | $868 | 0 mi |
| Panora | city | 1,579 | $66,339 | $1,040 | 7 mi |
| Lake Panorama | CDP | 928 | $126,563 | n/a | 6 mi |
| Adair | city | 830 | $54,550 | $893 | 15 mi |
| Yale | city | 405 | $54,464 | $775 | 10 mi |
| Bayard | city | 398 | $57,250 | $894 | 12 mi |
| Menlo | city | 398 | $77,396 | n/a | 12 mi |
| Casey | city | 381 | $58,438 | $857 | 12 mi |
| Diamondhead Lake | CDP | 285 | $148,542 | n/a | 15 mi |
| Bagley | city | 223 | $38,906 | $592 | 12 mi |
| Jamaica | city | 189 | $52,250 | $498 | 15 mi |
Budget math at the Guthrie County median
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Guthrie County's medians:
- $77,711 a year is $6,476 of gross monthly income
- Housing at the median rent of $845 uses 13%
- 36% debt-to-income limit: $1,486 left for all other debt payments
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
What the numbers mean for Guthrie County borrowers
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Guthrie County borrowers.
- Commuter costs. 22% drive 45 minutes or more. Compare shop financing with a loan, and keep a small repair fund.
- Benefit income. With half of residents older than 47, lenders often see pension and Social Security income, which counts like wages.
- Know your credit. Review all three bureau reports for free (AnnualCreditReport.com).
More Guthrie County figures
25% of Guthrie County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 3% go without health insurance.
| Measure | Guthrie County | Iowa statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.7 | 38.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 25.0% | 31.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 4.1% | 6.7% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 3.1% | 5.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.0% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 11.8% | 11.3% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 9.9% | 11.1% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.2% | 3.6% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Guthrie County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 37.4% |
| 15 to 29 min | 20.6% |
| 30 to 44 min | 20.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 11.5% |
| 60+ min | 10.5% |
Iowa rules that apply in Guthrie County
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Guthrie County, check the Iowa Division of Banking. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. The Iowa guide covers state rules in more detail.
Checklist for Guthrie County applicants
Before you apply, wherever you live in Guthrie County:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Guthrie County.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- A Iowa license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Iowa guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Guthrie County?
$77,711 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $75,059 for Iowa. It ranks 19th of 99 in the state.
How much is rent in Guthrie County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $845 a month; 43% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Which towns does the Guthrie County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 11 Census places: Guthrie Center, Panora, Lake Panorama, Adair, Yale.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Guthrie County or elsewhere in Iowa, the same rules apply.
Is there a Guthrie County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Iowa it is the Iowa Division of Banking.