1st Advantage MortgageAbout 81% of Jackson County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $74,186. Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- A quick profile of Jackson County
- Housing costs in Jackson County
- How much Jackson County households make
- How Jackson County residents earn a living
- Jackson County towns compared
- Jackson County next to its neighbors
- Jackson County households compared
- Borrowing situations common in Jackson County
- Debt-to-income at Jackson County's medians
- Lender oversight for Jackson County
- Checklist for Jackson County applicants
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Jackson County
With an estimated 19,390 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Jackson County ranks 35th of 99 in Iowa for population. Land area is 636 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 30 per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Jackson County is not part of any metropolitan area. The Census Bureau counts 13 places in the county (13 incorporated, 0 census-designated); the largest is Maquoketa, with about 6,075 residents, or 31% of the county.
Housing costs in Jackson County
A typical Jackson County rental runs $807 a month including utilities, which is 17% below Iowa. 45% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 21% spend half or more. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $175,000, about 2.4 times the median household income. The ownership rate is 81%.
| Cost | Jackson County | Iowa figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $807/mo | $972/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $175,000 | $208,000 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 81% | 72% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 45% | 44% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 20% | 20% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 6.8% | 3.2% | n/a |
Because most Jackson 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 much Jackson County households make
Half of Jackson County households take in less than $74,186 a year and half take in more, about the same as the Iowa median of $75,059.
| Yearly household income | Jackson County | Gap to Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 19.6% | -1.5 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 48.1% | +5.2 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 26.2% | -1.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 6.1% | -2.5 pts |
About 20% of households earn under $35,000, while 32% clear $100,000. The poverty rate is 9.7%, 1 point lower than the state's 11.1%. If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Jackson County median.
How Jackson County residents earn a living
The biggest employer of Jackson County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 23% of workers, followed by manufacturing (16%). The sharpest difference from the state is in agriculture, forestry and mining, at 8% locally and 4% for Iowa. Averaged over the five survey years, 5.1% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Long commutes are common here: 15% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Jackson County | Gap to Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 22.6% | -1.6 pts |
| Manufacturing | 16.4% | +1.7 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.9% | +0.4 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 8.1% | +4.3 pts |
| Construction | 7.4% | +0.5 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 7.3% | -0.3 pts |
Where long drives are the norm, a car repair is one of the most common surprise bills. A small repair fund can keep a breakdown from turning into a loan.
Jackson County towns compared
The table lists the 13 largest of 13 Census places in Jackson County, by population. Together all 13 hold about 11,713 people, so roughly 40% of residents live outside any named place. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $60,240 in Maquoketa to $79,417 in Bellevue. This guide covers each of the 13 places and the rural areas around them.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maquoketa | city | 6,075 | $60,240 | $795 | 9 mi |
| Bellevue | city | 2,259 | $79,417 | $843 | 10 mi |
| Preston | city | 1,044 | $74,063 | $765 | 12 mi |
| Sabula | city | 547 | $77,656 | $950 | 21 mi |
| Andrew | city | 423 | $66,343 | $988 | 1 mi |
| Miles | city | 398 | $72,708 | $758 | 16 mi |
| La Motte | city | 267 | $84,167 | n/a | 9 mi |
| Baldwin | city | 153 | $58,875 | n/a | 15 mi |
| St. Donatus | city | 135 | $44,141 | $1,097 | 14 mi |
| Springbrook | city | 125 | $53,750 | n/a | 5 mi |
| Monmouth | city | 121 | $51,875 | n/a | 17 mi |
| Spragueville | city | 90 | $77,500 | n/a | 10 mi |
| Zwingle | city | 76 | $78,750 | $950 | 11 mi |
Jackson County next to its neighbors
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (19 to 36 miles). 2 of the six report a higher median household income than Jackson County; Scott County is highest at $78,277 and Carroll County lowest at $60,758. The list crosses into Illinois, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jackson County | - | $74,186 | $807/mo | 81% |
| Clinton County, IA | 19 mi | $66,981 | $850/mo | 75% |
| Jo Daviess County, IL | 23 mi | $73,993 | $825/mo | 80% |
| Dubuque County, IA | 26 mi | $77,630 | $959/mo | 73% |
| Jones County, IA | 28 mi | $73,531 | $784/mo | 81% |
| Carroll County, IL | 34 mi | $60,758 | $818/mo | 77% |
| Scott County, IA | 36 mi | $78,277 | $1,005/mo | 70% |
Jackson County households compared
Degree holders: 20% of adults over 25. About 6% go without health insurance.
| Jackson County | Iowa | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.7 | 38.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 19.5% | 31.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 5.8% | 6.7% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.7% | 5.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.2% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 10.3% | 11.3% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 9.7% | 11.1% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.1% | 3.6% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Jackson County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 37.5% |
| 15 to 29 min | 25.8% |
| 30 to 44 min | 21.1% |
| 45 to 59 min | 9.2% |
| 60+ min | 6.3% |
Borrowing situations common in Jackson County
What the Jackson County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Credit reports. Pull free reports at AnnualCreditReport.com and dispute errors before applying.
- Requirements. Lenders weigh credit history, documented income and existing debt (what to gather).
- Scams. A fee demanded before funding is a red flag; report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (spotting scams).
Debt-to-income at Jackson County's medians
Jackson County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- Start: $6,182 gross per month ($74,186 / 12)
- Less median rent of $807, which is 13% of it
- At 36%, room after rent is $1,419 a month
- With a 43% ceiling, about $1,851 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 Jackson County's.
Lender oversight for Jackson County
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Jackson 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.
Checklist for Jackson County applicants
Quick steps for Jackson County:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Jackson County-area credit union.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Iowa guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Jackson County household make?
About $74,186 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24).
What do renters pay in Jackson County?
$807 a month at the median, about 13% of median household income.
I own my home in Jackson County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 81% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
I live in a small Jackson County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Maquoketa, Bellevue, Preston, Sabula, Andrew and 8 more.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Jackson County or elsewhere in Iowa, the same rules apply.