1st Advantage MortgageThe median Harrison County household earns $79,535, and 7% 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
- Who lives in Harrison County
- Household income in Harrison County
- Rent, home values and ownership in Harrison County
- How Harrison County residents earn a living
- Harrison County towns compared
- Harrison County next to its neighbors
- A Harrison County household budget, worked through
- Harrison County households compared
- Reading the Harrison County data as a borrower
- Checking a lender's license in Iowa
- A Harrison County borrower's checklist
- More guides for Harrison County
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Harrison County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Harrison County's population at 14,632; only 51 of Iowa's 99 county-level areas are larger. Spread over 697 square miles, that works out to roughly 21.0 residents per square mile. It is one of the counties that make up the Omaha, NE-IA metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). The Census Bureau counts 12 places in the county (10 incorporated, 2 census-designated); the largest is Missouri Valley, with about 2,666 residents, or 18% of the county.
Household income in Harrison County
The median household income in Harrison County is $79,535; statewide it is $75,059, so Harrison County runs 6% above Iowa as a whole. In the state ranking that is 13th of 99.
| Band | Harrison County | Compared with Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 19.4% | -1.8 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 43.8% | +0.9 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 29.4% | +1.9 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 7.5% | -1.1 pts |
The spread is wide: 37% of Harrison County households make $100,000 or more, and 19% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 7.1%, 4 points lower than the state's 11.1%. None of these numbers decides a Harrison County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Rent, home values and ownership in Harrison County
Renters in Harrison County pay a median of $849 a month, 13% below the Iowa figure of $972. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 32% of renter households here. With a median value of $176,000, a typical Harrison County house costs 2.2 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 77%. The median home was built in 1954, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Measure | Harrison County | Iowa | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $849/mo | $972/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $176,000 | $208,000 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 77% | 72% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 32% | 44% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 18% | 20% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 4.6% | 3.2% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 9% | 8% | n/a |
Because most Harrison County households own, home repairs are a frequent reason to borrow. An unsecured personal loan leaves the house out of the deal, while a HELOC uses it as collateral.
How Harrison County residents earn a living
The biggest employer of Harrison County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 26% of workers, followed by manufacturing (11%). Agriculture, forestry and mining stands out: 7% of workers here, versus 4% statewide. The survey's unemployment rate for Harrison County averages 2.3% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 3.6%). 21% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 10% work from home. 4.1% of households have no vehicle.
| Sector | Harrison County | Compared with Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 26.2% | +2.1 pts |
| Manufacturing | 11.3% | -3.4 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.3% | -2.2 pts |
| Construction | 9.0% | +2.1 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 7.5% | +2.4 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.0% | -0.6 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Harrison County towns compared
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 57% of Harrison County residents live in one of the 12. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $49,375 in Dunlap to $84,833 in Logan. Rent is cheapest in Missouri Valley ($753) and steepest in Dunlap ($918). No Harrison County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 12.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Missouri Valley | city | 2,666 | $71,818 | $753 | 10 mi |
| Woodbine | city | 1,471 | $50,804 | $840 | 7 mi |
| Logan | city | 1,392 | $84,833 | $807 | 3 mi |
| Dunlap | city | 1,170 | $49,375 | $918 | 16 mi |
| Mondamin | city | 403 | $75,000 | $890 | 10 mi |
| Persia | city | 294 | $72,000 | $918 | 15 mi |
| Pisgah | city | 255 | $66,250 | $775 | 11 mi |
| Modale | city | 181 | $49,375 | $1,125 | 11 mi |
| Magnolia | city | 180 | $78,393 | $1,354 | 2 mi |
| California Junction | CDP | 169 | $172,650 | n/a | 12 mi |
| Little Sioux | city | 129 | n/a | n/a | 13 mi |
| River Sioux | CDP | 7 | n/a | n/a | 14 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
Harrison County next to its neighbors
Washington County is closest, 23 miles from center to center; the sixth, Douglas County, is 32 miles off. Income ranges from $63,685 in Burt County to $94,396 in Washington County; 2 of these neighbors top Harrison County's median. Some neighbors are in Nebraska. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Harrison County resident follows Iowa rules.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harrison County | - | $79,535 | $849/mo | 77% |
| Washington County, NE | 23 mi | $94,396 | $965/mo | 83% |
| Monona County, IA | 26 mi | $68,377 | $855/mo | 76% |
| Shelby County, IA | 27 mi | $72,738 | $783/mo | 78% |
| Pottawattamie County, IA | 28 mi | $73,602 | $1,018/mo | 70% |
| Burt County, NE | 29 mi | $63,685 | $708/mo | 75% |
| Douglas County, NE | 32 mi | $80,391 | $1,201/mo | 62% |
A Harrison County household budget, worked through
How much room does a median Harrison County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- $6,628 a month: gross income for a household at the Harrison County median
- Housing at the median rent of $849 uses 13%
- With a 35% ceiling, about $1,471 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
- With a 45% ceiling, about $2,134 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Harrison County's.
Harrison County households compared
Degree holders: 22% of adults over 25. About 5% go without health insurance.
| Harrison County | Iowa | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.1 | 38.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 22.0% | 31.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 6.2% | 6.7% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 4.7% | 5.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.1% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 9.6% | 11.3% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 7.1% | 11.1% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.3% | 3.6% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Harrison County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 34.4% |
| 15 to 29 min | 18.4% |
| 30 to 44 min | 26.4% |
| 45 to 59 min | 12.6% |
| 60+ min | 8.2% |
Reading the Harrison County data as a borrower
Where the Harrison County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Long drives. With 21% of commutes over 45 minutes, tires and repairs are fixed costs in many Harrison County budgets.
- Scams. A fee demanded before funding is a red flag; report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (spotting scams).
- Getting ready. Gather pay stubs or benefit letters before you apply (checklist).
Checking a lender's license in Iowa
Harrison County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Iowa Division of Banking. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. Statewide data and rules: Iowa guide.
A Harrison County borrower's checklist
Before you apply, wherever you live in Harrison County:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Harrison County-area credit union.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Iowa.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
More guides for Harrison County
The Iowa guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Harrison County earn?
The median is $79,535; 37% earn $100,000 or more and 19% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How much is rent in Harrison County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $849 a month; 32% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Should Harrison County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 77% of Harrison County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
What are the biggest places in Harrison County?
By population: Missouri Valley, Woodbine, Logan, Dunlap, Mondamin. The county has 12 Census places in all.
Will a Harrison County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Iowa as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.