1st Advantage MortgageHancock County households have a median income of $70,601 and median rent of $736 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's Iowa license first.
On this page
- Who lives in Hancock County
- Jobs and commutes in Hancock County
- Where Hancock County households live
- Household income in Hancock County
- Hancock County's most unusual numbers
- Hancock County, Winnebago County and other neighbors
- Places inside Hancock County
- Local borrowing considerations for Hancock County
- Budget math at the Hancock County median
- People and households in Hancock County
- Before you sign
- Lender oversight for Hancock County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Hancock County
Roughly 10,671 residents live in Hancock County, Iowa, 69th by population among the state's 99 counties and county equivalents. Spread over 571 square miles, that works out to roughly 18.7 residents per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Hancock County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Garner is the biggest of its 12 Census places, at roughly 3,049 people (29% of the county total).
Jobs and commutes in Hancock County
Top Hancock County industry by residents employed: education and health care, 23%; second, manufacturing, 21%. Hancock County over-indexes on manufacturing: 21% versus 15% in Iowa. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 1.9% in Hancock County. 7% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 7% work from home. Only 5.1% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Sector | Hancock County | Compared with Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 22.8% | -1.4 pts |
| Manufacturing | 20.8% | +6.1 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.4% | -0.1 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 9.1% | +5.4 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 8.2% | +3.1 pts |
| Construction | 6.0% | -0.9 pts |
Seasonal work is common in many Hancock County industries; if that is you, show a full year of income rather than one strong month.
Where Hancock County households live
Hancock County rent at the median: $736 a month, utilities in ($972 in Iowa). By the Census definition, 40% of Hancock County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $141,400, or 2.0 years of median income. Homeowners 82%, renters 18%. The median home was built in 1961, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills. Nationally, Hancock County's $736 rent is 16% below the middle county.
| Measure | Hancock County | Iowa | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Owners | 82% | 72% | +10.7 pts |
| Rent-burdened renters | 40% | 44% | -4.3 pts |
| Median home value | $141,400 | $208,000 | 32% lower |
| Median gross rent | $736/mo | $972/mo | 24% lower |
| Burdened owners | 18% | 20% | -1.9 pts |
| Vacant units | 9% | 8% | +0.2 pts |
In an owner-heavy county like Hancock 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 Hancock County
Median household income in Hancock County: $70,601 (6% below Iowa, $75,059). Only 54 Iowa counties post a higher median.
| Household income | Hancock County | vs Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 21.0% | -0.2 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 47.8% | +4.9 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 27.3% | -0.2 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.9% | -4.6 pts |
Six-figure households (31%) outnumber those under $35,000 (21%) in Hancock County. Hancock County counts about 1,297 residents below the poverty line, 12.2% of the population. Hancock County scores 0.417 on the Gini index, where higher means more unequal incomes. For a borrower in Hancock 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.
Hancock County's most unusual numbers
Where Hancock County lands at the extremes of Iowa's county rankings:
- On homeownership, Hancock County sits near the top of Iowa at 82%, 8th highest of 99. An owner-heavy county means repairs are a common reason to borrow.
- On median age, Hancock County sits near the top of Iowa at 44.6, 13th highest of 99. Retirement income counts when documented; favor loans with no prepayment penalty.
- Hancock County ranks 15th lowest of 99 Iowa counties for the ACS unemployment rate: 1.9%, against 3.6% statewide. A tight job market helps steady income, but lenders still verify it.
Hancock County, Winnebago County and other neighbors
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Hancock County's, from 21 to 32 miles away. Worth County leads the group on income ($78,008), Wright County trails ($67,190), and Hancock County out-earns 4 of the six.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hancock County | - | $70,601 | $736/mo | 82% |
| Winnebago County, IA | 21 mi | $67,642 | $717/mo | 71% |
| Wright County, IA | 24 mi | $67,190 | $790/mo | 77% |
| Cerro Gordo County, IA | 25 mi | $68,189 | $850/mo | 70% |
| Kossuth County, IA | 26 mi | $67,697 | $859/mo | 79% |
| Humboldt County, IA | 31 mi | $71,946 | $744/mo | 77% |
| Worth County, IA | 32 mi | $78,008 | $758/mo | 83% |
Places inside Hancock County
Here are the 12 most populous of the county's 12 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 68% of Hancock County residents live in one of the 12. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $59,256 in Klemme to $72,943 in Britt. No Hancock County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 12.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Garner | city | 3,049 | $70,726 | $740 | 7 mi |
| Britt | city | 1,882 | $72,943 | $774 | 3 mi |
| Kanawha | city | 756 | $68,250 | $575 | 10 mi |
| Klemme | city | 544 | $59,256 | $477 | 9 mi |
| Crystal Lake | city | 283 | $66,875 | $911 | 10 mi |
| Goodell | city | 268 | $87,813 | n/a | 12 mi |
| Corwith | city | 249 | $55,313 | $631 | 12 mi |
| Woden | city | 219 | $50,000 | $967 | 14 mi |
| Miller | CDP | 25 | n/a | n/a | 10 mi |
| Duncan | CDP | 21 | n/a | n/a | 3 mi |
| Hayfield | CDP | 0 | n/a | n/a | 8 mi |
| Hutchins | CDP | 0 | n/a | n/a | 7 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
Local borrowing considerations for Hancock County
A few patterns in the Hancock County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Consolidating cards in Hancock County. Compare the total repaid, not the monthly figure (how).
- Paperwork. ID, proof of income and a bank account are the basics (requirements).
- Advance-fee offers. No legitimate lender asks a Hancock County borrower to pay first (scam signs).
Budget math at the Hancock County median
DTI math using Hancock County medians ($70,601 income, $736 rent):
- $5,883 a month: gross income for a household at the Hancock County median
- 13% goes to median rent ($736)
- $1,617: what a 40% ratio leaves once rent is paid
A household below the $70,601 median has less room than this, often none.
People and households in Hancock County
College graduates make up 20% of the adult population. About 6% go without health insurance.
| Indicator | Hancock County | +/- Iowa | +/- U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.6 | +6.0 yrs | +3.1 yrs |
| Bachelor's or higher | 20.5% | -11.0 pts | -1.7 pts |
| No high school diploma | 8.6% | +1.9 pts | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.8% | +0.8 pts | -2.0 pts |
| No vehicle | 5.1% | -0.4 pts | -0.4 pts |
| Work from home | 7.1% | -4.3 pts | -1.6 pts |
| Poverty rate | 12.2% | +1.1 pts | -1.0 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 1.9% | -1.7 pts | -2.5 pts |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 45.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 29.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 17.6% |
| 45 to 59 min | 3.1% |
| 60+ min | 4.4% |
Before you sign
Quick steps for Hancock County:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Iowa.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Lender oversight for Hancock County
Before sharing details with a lender, a Hancock County resident can confirm its license with the Iowa Division of Banking. If a Hancock County lender ignores a dispute, the CFPB complaint portal is the federal backstop. State-level detail for Hancock County borrowers is in the Iowa guide.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Iowa guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is $70,601 a good income in Hancock County?
It is the county median, so half of Hancock County households earn more and half less; 31% earn $100,000 or more.
How does Hancock County rent compare with Iowa?
$736 locally versus $972 for the state, 24% below.
What are the biggest places in Hancock County?
By population: Garner, Britt, Kanawha, Klemme, Crystal Lake. The county has 12 Census places in all.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Hancock County or elsewhere in Iowa, the same rules apply.
Who regulates personal lenders for Hancock County residents?
The Iowa Division of Banking licenses consumer lenders in Iowa; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.