1st Advantage MortgageLee County households have a median income of $62,382 and median rent of $835 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). 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
- Lee County, IA: the basics
- Paychecks and income spread in Lee County
- Rent, home values and ownership in Lee County
- Employment and commuting in Lee County
- Lee County towns compared
- How Lee County compares with nearby counties
- Lee County households compared
- What the numbers mean for Lee County borrowers
- Room for a loan payment in Lee County
- Four steps for Lee County borrowers
- Iowa rules that apply in Lee County
- More guides for Lee County
- Frequently asked questions
Lee County, IA: the basics
Roughly 32,893 residents live in Lee County, Iowa, 22nd by population among the state's 99 counties and county equivalents. Land area is 518 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 64 per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Lee County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Fort Madison is the biggest of its 13 Census places, at roughly 10,133 people (31% of the county total).
Paychecks and income spread in Lee County
At $62,382, the typical Lee County household income is 5% below the median U.S. county ($65,681).
| Household income | Lee County | vs Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 29.2% | +8.1 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 44.1% | +1.2 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 21.6% | -5.9 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.1% | -3.5 pts |
The spread is wide: 27% of Lee County households make $100,000 or more, and 29% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 13.1%, 2 points higher 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 Lee County median.
Rent, home values and ownership in Lee County
Renters in Lee County pay a median of $835 a month, 14% below the Iowa figure of $972. By the Census definition, 49% of Lee County renters are cost-burdened. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $141,400, about 2.3 times the median household income. 76% of Lee County households own their home and 24% rent. Median construction year: 1960.
| Measure | Lee County | Iowa | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $835/mo | $972/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $141,400 | $208,000 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 76% | 72% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 49% | 44% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 21% | 20% | n/a |
Because most Lee 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.
Employment and commuting in Lee County
By the Census industry count, 24% of employed Lee County residents work in education and health care and 19% in manufacturing. Manufacturing stands out: 19% of workers here, versus 15% statewide. The survey's unemployment rate for Lee County averages 4.5% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 3.6%). Long commutes are the exception here: 10% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. 5.0% of households have no vehicle.
| Where residents work | Lee County | Difference from Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 23.5% | -0.6 pts |
| Manufacturing | 18.8% | +4.0 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.1% | +0.6 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 5.9% | +0.8 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 5.7% | -1.9 pts |
| Public administration | 5.7% | +2.3 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
Lee County towns compared
The table lists the 13 largest of 13 Census places in Lee County, by population. Together all 13 hold about 23,977 people, so roughly 27% of residents live outside any named place. Denmark has the highest median household income on the list ($136,875) and Fort Madison the lowest ($50,705), counting places with at least 500 residents. None of the 13 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Madison | city | 10,133 | $50,705 | $826 | 7 mi |
| Keokuk | city | 9,662 | $52,711 | $871 | 17 mi |
| West Point | city | 840 | $73,125 | $617 | 5 mi |
| Denmark | CDP | 835 | $136,875 | n/a | 9 mi |
| Donnellson | city | 776 | $54,453 | $644 | 5 mi |
| Montrose | city | 744 | $66,250 | $625 | 9 mi |
| Sandusky | CDP | 354 | $108,977 | n/a | 14 mi |
| Franklin | city | 148 | n/a | n/a | 2 mi |
| Mooar | CDP | 144 | $69,423 | n/a | 15 mi |
| Wever | CDP | 142 | $43,750 | n/a | 14 mi |
| Houghton | city | 72 | $106,042 | $900 | 12 mi |
| St. Paul | city | 65 | $72,500 | n/a | 9 mi |
| Argyle | CDP | 62 | n/a | n/a | 9 mi |
CDPs are unincorporated communities the Census Bureau defines for counting.
How Lee County compares with nearby counties
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Lee County's, from 21 to 30 miles away. 3 of the six report a higher median household income than Lee County; Henry County is highest at $67,436 and Clark County lowest at $51,781. The list crosses into Illinois, Missouri, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lee County | - | $62,382 | $835/mo | 76% |
| Clark County, MO | 21 mi | $51,781 | $612/mo | 78% |
| Hancock County, IL | 23 mi | $65,865 | $782/mo | 81% |
| Henry County, IA | 24 mi | $67,436 | $820/mo | 74% |
| Des Moines County, IA | 24 mi | $62,928 | $904/mo | 75% |
| Van Buren County, IA | 26 mi | $61,161 | $622/mo | 82% |
| Henderson County, IL | 30 mi | $62,227 | $764/mo | 81% |
Lee County households compared
College graduates make up 22% of the adult population. About 5% go without health insurance.
| People and households | Lee County | Iowa | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.6 | 38.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 21.7% | 31.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 7.5% | 6.7% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.4% | 5.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.0% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 6.1% | 11.3% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 13.1% | 11.1% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.5% | 3.6% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Lee County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 46.8% |
| 15 to 29 min | 31.1% |
| 30 to 44 min | 11.9% |
| 45 to 59 min | 4.9% |
| 60+ min | 5.2% |
What the numbers mean for Lee County borrowers
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Lee County borrowers.
- 49% rent-burdened. A payment on top of high rent needs a cushion; size it with the calculator.
- Credit reports. Pull free reports at AnnualCreditReport.com and dispute errors before applying.
- Scams. A fee demanded before funding is a red flag; report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (spotting scams).
Room for a loan payment in Lee County
Lee County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- $5,198 a month: gross income for a household at the Lee County median
- Rent at the median, $835, takes 16% of that
- Under a 35% cap, $1,819 total minus rent leaves $984
- With a 45% ceiling, about $1,504 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Four steps for Lee County borrowers
Before you apply, wherever you live in Lee County:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
Iowa rules that apply in Lee County
Lee County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Iowa Division of Banking. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. See the Iowa state guide for the statewide picture.
More guides for Lee County
The Iowa guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Lee County earn?
The median is $62,382; 27% earn $100,000 or more and 29% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How much is rent in Lee County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $835 a month; 49% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Which towns does the Lee County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 13 Census places: Fort Madison, Keokuk, West Point, Denmark, Donnellson.
Does living in Lee County change what I qualify for?
Not in our fit check, which uses only the amount, credit range, income and payments you enter, the same for a Lee County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.
Is there a Lee County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Iowa it is the Iowa Division of Banking.