1st Advantage MortgageIn Howard County, Iowa, the typical household earns $67,446 a year and the typical rent is $713. 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
- Howard County at a glance
- What Howard County households earn
- Howard County housing compared with Iowa
- Jobs and commutes in Howard County
- Regional comparison for Howard County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Howard County
- Howard County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Borrowing situations common in Howard County
- Budget math at the Howard County median
- Steps before you apply in Howard County
- Who licenses lenders for Howard County residents
- More guides for Howard County
- Frequently asked questions
Howard County at a glance
Roughly 9,445 residents live in Howard County, Iowa, 79th by population among the state's 99 counties and county equivalents. Spread over 473 square miles, that works out to roughly 20.0 residents per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Howard County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Cresco is the biggest of its 6 Census places, at roughly 3,908 people (41% of the county total). With so few households sampled, Howard County estimates can move a lot between releases.
What Howard County households earn
Howard County households have a median income of $67,446 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 68th of 99 in Iowa.
| Band | Howard County | Compared with Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 21.1% | 0.0 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 49.1% | +6.3 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 25.0% | -2.5 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.8% | -3.8 pts |
The spread is wide: 30% of Howard County households make $100,000 or more, and 21% make less than $35,000. Census counts 8.9% of Howard County residents in poverty, against 11.1% across Iowa. A household earning below the $67,446 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Howard County housing compared with Iowa
Renters in Howard County pay a median of $713 a month, 27% below the Iowa figure of $972. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 27% of renter households here. Home values center on $147,800, or 2.2 years of median income. The ownership rate is 77%. Median construction year: 1960.
| Measure | Howard County | Iowa | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $713/mo | $972/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $147,800 | $208,000 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 77% | 72% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 27% | 44% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 19% | 20% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 1.7% | 3.2% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 13% | 8% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Howard 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.
Jobs and commutes in Howard County
The biggest employer of Howard County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 25% of workers, followed by manufacturing (21%). The sharpest difference from the state is in agriculture, forestry and mining, at 10% locally and 4% for Iowa. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 1.9% in Howard County. 16% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 10% work from home.
| Top industries | Howard County share | +/- vs Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 24.5% | +0.4 pts |
| Manufacturing | 20.6% | +5.9 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.7% | +1.2 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 10.5% | +6.7 pts |
| Construction | 8.9% | +1.9 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 4.6% | -0.6 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Regional comparison for Howard County
Chickasaw County is closest, 21 miles from center to center; the sixth, Floyd County, is 32 miles off. Winneshiek County leads the group on income ($79,066), Floyd County trails ($68,557), and Howard County out-earns 0 of the six. Some neighbors are in Minnesota. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Howard County resident follows Iowa rules.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Howard County | - | $67,446 | $713/mo | 77% |
| Chickasaw County, IA | 21 mi | $75,675 | $738/mo | 81% |
| Mitchell County, IA | 23 mi | $71,365 | $738/mo | 80% |
| Winneshiek County, IA | 24 mi | $79,066 | $861/mo | 74% |
| Fillmore County, MN | 25 mi | $77,512 | $797/mo | 83% |
| Mower County, MN | 30 mi | $73,074 | $927/mo | 78% |
| Floyd County, IA | 32 mi | $68,557 | $745/mo | 77% |
Cities, towns and CDPs in Howard County
The table lists the 6 largest of 6 Census places in Howard County, by population. Together all 6 hold about 6,294 people, so roughly 33% of residents live outside any named place. Cresco has the highest median household income on the list ($60,608) and Elma the lowest ($44,375), counting places with at least 500 residents. No Howard County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 6.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cresco | city | 3,908 | $60,608 | $715 | 10 mi |
| Riceville | city | 823 | $44,615 | $1,156 | 12 mi |
| Elma | city | 659 | $44,375 | $689 | 10 mi |
| Lime Springs | city | 442 | $53,750 | $538 | 6 mi |
| Protivin | city | 312 | $71,667 | $594 | 16 mi |
| Chester | city | 150 | $63,438 | $579 | 9 mi |
Howard County residents: age, schooling, coverage
College graduates make up 20% of the adult population. The uninsured rate is 10.2%, against 5.0% for Iowa.
| Howard County | Iowa | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.2 | 38.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 19.5% | 31.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 7.5% | 6.7% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 10.2% | 5.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.9% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 10.0% | 11.3% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 8.9% | 11.1% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 1.9% | 3.6% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 49.1% |
| 15 to 29 min | 21.2% |
| 30 to 44 min | 13.9% |
| 45 to 59 min | 5.1% |
| 60+ min | 10.7% |
Borrowing situations common in Howard County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Howard County borrowers.
- Health costs. With 10% of the county uninsured, an interest-free hospital payment plan usually beats a loan (medical bills).
- Know your credit. Review all three bureau reports for free (AnnualCreditReport.com).
- Getting ready. Gather pay stubs or benefit letters before you apply (checklist).
Budget math at the Howard County median
How much room does a median Howard County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- Start: $5,620 gross per month ($67,446 / 12)
- Less median rent of $713, which is 13% of it
- 36% debt-to-income limit: $1,310 left for all other debt payments
- $1,704: what a 43% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Two-income households and single earners in Howard County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Steps before you apply in Howard County
Steps that save money for Howard County residents:
- Price the Howard County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Keep a small cushion so one surprise bill does not mean another loan.
Who licenses lenders for Howard County residents
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Howard County, check the Iowa Division of Banking. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. See the Iowa state guide for the statewide picture.
More guides for Howard County
For statewide rules and data, see the Iowa guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Howard County a high-income county?
Its $67,446 median ranks 68th of 99 Iowa counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
Is Howard County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $713 against $972 statewide, and 27% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Does this page cover Cresco?
Yes, along with the other 5 Census places in Howard County, such as Riceville, Elma, Lime Springs.
Can Howard 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.
Who regulates personal lenders for Howard 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.