1st Advantage MortgageIn Keokuk County, Iowa, the typical household earns $62,329 a year and the typical rent is $828. 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
- Getting oriented in Keokuk County
- How Keokuk County residents earn a living
- Earnings across Keokuk County households
- What it costs to live in Keokuk County
- What stands out in Keokuk County
- How Keokuk County compares with nearby counties
- Sigourney and the rest of Keokuk County
- Local borrowing considerations for Keokuk County
- Age, degrees and coverage in Keokuk County
- Debt-to-income, Keokuk County edition
- Iowa rules that apply in Keokuk County
- Steps before you apply in Keokuk County
- Beyond Keokuk County
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Keokuk County
With an estimated 9,924 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Keokuk County ranks 74th of 99 in Iowa for population. It covers 579 square miles of land, or about 17 people per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Largest place: Sigourney, about 1,954 residents (20% of Keokuk County); 16 Census places in all. Because Keokuk County is small, the survey's margins of error are wide; treat the numbers as approximate.
How Keokuk County residents earn a living
Top Keokuk County industry by residents employed: education and health care, 25%; second, manufacturing, 14%. The sharpest difference from the state is in agriculture, forestry and mining, at 12% locally and 4% for Iowa. The survey's unemployment rate for Keokuk County averages 4.5% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 3.6%). About 80% drive to work alone and 19% have trips of 45 minutes or more.
| Where residents work | Keokuk County | Difference from Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 24.8% | +0.6 pts |
| Manufacturing | 13.5% | -1.2 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 11.8% | +8.0 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.3% | -0.2 pts |
| Construction | 8.5% | +1.6 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 6.6% | +1.5 pts |
Self-employed in Keokuk County? Two years of tax returns usually stand in for pay stubs.
Earnings across Keokuk County households
Keokuk County households have a median income of $62,329 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 87th of 99 in Iowa.
| Income band | Share in Keokuk County | Difference from Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 24.4% | +3.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 47.2% | +4.4 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 23.4% | -4.1 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.9% | -3.6 pts |
24% under $35,000 and 28% at $100,000 or more: that is the Keokuk County income split. The poverty rate is 12.1%, 1 point higher than the state's 11.1%. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
What it costs to live in Keokuk County
Half of Keokuk County renters pay more than $828 a month and half pay less; the Iowa midpoint is $972. Cost-burdened renters, paying 30%-plus of income: 38% in Keokuk County, 44% statewide. Keokuk County homes are worth $118,700 at the median, a 1.9-to-1 ratio to income. In Keokuk County, 81% of occupied homes are owned by the people living in them. Half the housing stock was built before 1950. Against the median U.S. county, Keokuk County rent is 6% below.
| Home costs | Keokuk County | Iowa | Compared with Iowa |
|---|---|---|---|
| Owners | 81% | 72% | +9.6 pts |
| Rent-burdened renters | 38% | 44% | -6.1 pts |
| Median home value | $118,700 | $208,000 | 43% lower |
| Median gross rent | $828/mo | $972/mo | 15% lower |
| Burdened owners | 20% | 20% | -0.3 pts |
| Mobile homes | 3.0% | 3.2% | -0.2 pts |
With 81% of Keokuk County homes owner-occupied, equity is a real alternative for many readers; just remember a missed HELOC payment puts the home at risk.
What stands out in Keokuk County
Where Keokuk County lands at the extremes of Iowa's county rankings:
- Keokuk County ranks 7th highest of 99 Iowa counties for the share of commutes over 45 minutes: 19%, against 8% statewide. Long drives make car repairs a common emergency; get two written quotes.
- The share of adults with a bachelor's degree: 17% in Keokuk County. Only 6 of 99 Iowa counties are lower. No degree is required for a personal loan; documented income is.
- Keokuk County ranks 8th lowest of 99 Iowa counties for median home value: $118,700, against $208,000 statewide. With modest home values, equity borrowing is rarely large.
- Few Iowa counties match Keokuk County on median household income: $62,329 here, $75,059 for the state, ranking 13th lowest of 99. Where incomes run low, free assistance and credit-union small-dollar loans deserve a look first.
How Keokuk County compares with nearby counties
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Keokuk County's, from 23 to 31 miles away. 5 of the six report a higher median household income than Keokuk County; Washington County is highest at $75,647 and Jefferson County lowest at $61,620.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Keokuk County | - | $62,329 | $828/mo | 81% |
| Washington County, IA | 23 mi | $75,647 | $879/mo | 74% |
| Wapello County, IA | 24 mi | $64,766 | $920/mo | 68% |
| Mahaska County, IA | 24 mi | $70,940 | $793/mo | 68% |
| Jefferson County, IA | 25 mi | $61,620 | $883/mo | 68% |
| Iowa County, IA | 25 mi | $71,223 | $686/mo | 77% |
| Poweshiek County, IA | 31 mi | $67,391 | $883/mo | 71% |
Sigourney and the rest of Keokuk County
The table lists the 14 largest of 16 Census places in Keokuk County, by population. Together all 16 hold about 6,734 people, so roughly 32% of residents live outside any named place. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $48,182 in What Cheer to $67,500 in Hedrick. No Keokuk County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 16.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sigourney | city | 1,954 | $57,813 | $883 | 2 mi |
| Hedrick | city | 913 | $67,500 | $725 | 13 mi |
| Keota | city | 891 | $64,188 | $776 | 11 mi |
| What Cheer | city | 580 | $48,182 | $744 | 11 mi |
| Richland | city | 544 | $60,446 | n/a | 14 mi |
| Delta | city | 363 | $52,083 | $1,038 | 8 mi |
| South English | city | 260 | $51,016 | n/a | 9 mi |
| Keswick | city | 255 | $63,750 | $1,083 | 9 mi |
| Ollie | city | 238 | $71,875 | n/a | 10 mi |
| Kinross | city | 171 | $73,438 | n/a | 13 mi |
| Harper | city | 155 | $100,417 | $1,125 | 6 mi |
| Webster | city | 134 | $34,773 | n/a | 7 mi |
| Martinsburg | city | 101 | $55,000 | n/a | 11 mi |
| Gibson | city | 68 | $53,500 | n/a | 16 mi |
Local borrowing considerations for Keokuk County
- 19% long commutes. A Keokuk County repair bill is often urgent; compare the shop's financing with a loan in writing.
- Know your credit. Review all three bureau reports for free (AnnualCreditReport.com).
- Getting ready. Gather pay stubs or benefit letters before you apply (checklist).
Age, degrees and coverage in Keokuk County
Bachelor's degree or higher: 17% of Keokuk County adults. The uninsured rate is 4.0%, against 5.0% for Iowa.
| People and households | Keokuk County | Compared with Iowa | Compared with median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's or higher | 17.0% | -14.4 pts | -5.2 pts |
| Median age | 43.4 | +4.8 yrs | +1.9 yrs |
| Work from home | 9.5% | -1.8 pts | +0.8 pts |
| No vehicle | 4.3% | -1.2 pts | -1.2 pts |
| No high school diploma | 5.6% | -1.1 pts | n/a |
| Poverty rate | 12.1% | +1.1 pts | -1.0 pts |
| No health insurance | 4.0% | -1.0 pts | -3.9 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.5% | +0.9 pts | +0.1 pts |
| Minutes to work | Keokuk County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 29.5% |
| 15 to 29 min | 27.7% |
| 30 to 44 min | 23.9% |
| 45 to 59 min | 11.1% |
| 60+ min | 7.7% |
Debt-to-income, Keokuk County edition
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Keokuk County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Start: $5,194 gross per month ($62,329 / 12)
- 16% goes to median rent ($828)
- At 36%, room after rent is $1,042 a month
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Iowa rules that apply in Keokuk County
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Keokuk County borrowers answers to the Iowa Division of Banking. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. State-level detail for Keokuk County borrowers is in the Iowa guide.
Steps before you apply in Keokuk County
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Iowa.
- Keep a small cushion so one surprise bill does not mean another loan.
Beyond Keokuk County
No city in Keokuk County has its own guide yet; the state page is next up.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Keokuk County earn?
The median is $62,329; 28% earn $100,000 or more and 24% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
Can a Keokuk County renter afford a loan payment?
At the $828 median rent and $5,194 median monthly income, rent alone uses 16%; add other debts before a new payment.
Is home equity cheaper than a personal loan in Keokuk County?
Often, because the home secures it. With 81% of Keokuk County homes owner-occupied, weigh that lower cost against the risk to the house.
Is Hayesville covered?
Yes. Hayesville is one of 16 Census places in Keokuk County, and this guide covers all of them.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Keokuk County or elsewhere in Iowa, the same rules apply.