1st Advantage MortgageKossuth County households have a median income of $67,697 and median rent of $859 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). 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
- Kossuth County at a glance
- Rent, home values and ownership in Kossuth County
- How much Kossuth County households make
- How Kossuth County residents earn a living
- Regional comparison for Kossuth County
- Towns and communities in Kossuth County
- Kossuth County households compared
- Borrowing situations common in Kossuth County
- Room for a loan payment in Kossuth County
- Licensing and complaints for Kossuth County
- Before you sign
- More guides for Kossuth County
- Frequently asked questions
Kossuth County at a glance
Roughly 14,516 residents live in Kossuth County, Iowa, 54th by population among the state's 99 counties and county equivalents. Land area is 973 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 15 per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Kossuth County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Algona is the biggest of its 15 Census places, at roughly 5,377 people (37% of the county total).
Rent, home values and ownership in Kossuth County
Renters in Kossuth County pay a median of $859 a month, 12% below the Iowa figure of $972. 31% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 18% spend half or more. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $148,300, about 2.2 times the median household income. 79% of Kossuth County households own their home and 21% rent.
| Home costs | Kossuth County | Iowa | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $859/mo | $972/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $148,300 | $208,000 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 79% | 72% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 31% | 44% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 18% | 20% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 0.5% | 3.2% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 9% | 8% | n/a |
Owners with equity have a second option. Weigh a secured line against an unsecured loan by risk as well as cost before you choose (how they compare).
How much Kossuth County households make
At $67,697, the typical Kossuth County household income is 3% above the median U.S. county ($65,681).
| Household income | Kossuth County | vs Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 19.8% | -1.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 49.1% | +6.2 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 26.0% | -1.5 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.2% | -3.4 pts |
The spread is wide: 31% of Kossuth County households make $100,000 or more, and 20% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 8.2%, 3 points lower 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.
How Kossuth County residents earn a living
By the Census industry count, 20% of employed Kossuth County residents work in education and health care and 17% in manufacturing. The sharpest difference from the state is in agriculture, forestry and mining, at 12% locally and 4% for Iowa. Averaged over the five survey years, 1.9% of the labor force was out of work and looking. 6% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 7% work from home. Households without a car make up 6.1% of the total (5.4% statewide).
| Top industries | Kossuth County share | +/- vs Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 20.2% | -4.0 pts |
| Manufacturing | 16.8% | +2.1 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 11.9% | +8.1 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.0% | -2.5 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 6.7% | -1.0 pts |
| Other services | 6.6% | +2.2 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Regional comparison for Kossuth County
Six nearby counties, 25 to 35 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. 3 of the six report a higher median household income than Kossuth County; Palo Alto County is highest at $72,781 and Emmet County lowest at $63,730. Some neighbors are in Minnesota. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Kossuth County resident follows Iowa rules.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kossuth County | - | $67,697 | $859/mo | 79% |
| Palo Alto County, IA | 25 mi | $72,781 | $638/mo | 77% |
| Hancock County, IA | 26 mi | $70,601 | $736/mo | 82% |
| Emmet County, IA | 26 mi | $63,730 | $733/mo | 79% |
| Winnebago County, IA | 26 mi | $67,642 | $717/mo | 71% |
| Humboldt County, IA | 30 mi | $71,946 | $744/mo | 77% |
| Faribault County, MN | 35 mi | $66,815 | $799/mo | 79% |
Towns and communities in Kossuth County
The table lists the 14 largest of 15 Census places in Kossuth County, by population. Together all 15 hold about 9,416 people, so roughly 35% of residents live outside any named place. Incomes vary by place: $78,702 at the median in Whittemore, $47,656 in Swea City. Median rent ranges from $546 in Burt to $885 in Algona. No Kossuth County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 15.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Algona | city | 5,377 | $56,040 | $885 | 9 mi |
| Bancroft | city | 626 | $60,000 | $725 | 6 mi |
| Swea City | city | 591 | $47,656 | $661 | 13 mi |
| Whittemore | city | 569 | $78,702 | $625 | 15 mi |
| Burt | city | 511 | $66,750 | $546 | 1 mi |
| Titonka | city | 452 | $72,250 | $458 | 9 mi |
| Wesley | city | 360 | $68,125 | $525 | 14 mi |
| Fenton | city | 290 | $55,417 | $760 | 11 mi |
| Lakota | city | 266 | $68,750 | $436 | 13 mi |
| Ledyard | city | 112 | $33,750 | $413 | 15 mi |
| Lone Rock | city | 106 | $52,500 | $550 | 6 mi |
| St. Joseph | CDP | 73 | $37,344 | n/a | 21 mi |
| Irvington | CDP | 34 | n/a | n/a | 14 mi |
| St. Benedict | CDP | 25 | $128,438 | n/a | 14 mi |
Kossuth County households compared
23% of Kossuth County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 4% go without health insurance.
| People and households | Kossuth County | Iowa | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.2 | 38.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 22.8% | 31.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 4.9% | 6.7% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 3.8% | 5.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.1% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 7.2% | 11.3% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 8.2% | 11.1% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 1.9% | 3.6% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 55.4% |
| 15 to 29 min | 27.1% |
| 30 to 44 min | 11.5% |
| 45 to 59 min | 2.1% |
| 60+ min | 3.8% |
Borrowing situations common in Kossuth County
Where the Kossuth County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Debt consolidation. One fixed payment can save money only if the written APR and fees beat what you pay now (guide).
- Requirements. Lenders weigh credit history, documented income and existing debt (what to gather).
- Credit reports. Pull free reports at AnnualCreditReport.com and dispute errors before applying.
Room for a loan payment in Kossuth County
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Kossuth County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Start: $5,641 gross per month ($67,697 / 12)
- Less median rent of $859, which is 15% of it
- Under a 40% cap, $2,257 total minus rent leaves $1,398
If your rent is above $859, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Licensing and complaints for Kossuth County
Before sharing details with a lender, a Kossuth County resident can confirm its license with the Iowa Division of Banking. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. See the Iowa state guide for the statewide picture.
Before you sign
Steps that save money for Kossuth County residents:
- Price the Kossuth County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
More guides for Kossuth County
For statewide rules and data, see the Iowa guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Kossuth County a high-income county?
Its $67,697 median ranks 66th of 99 Iowa counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How much is rent in Kossuth County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $859 a month; 31% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Which towns does the Kossuth County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 15 Census places: Algona, Bancroft, Swea City, Whittemore, Burt.
Can Kossuth 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.
Where can someone in Kossuth County check a lender's license?
With the Iowa Division of Banking. If a lender is unlicensed or asks for a fee before funding, walk away.