1st Advantage MortgageLouisa County households have a median income of $77,354 and median rent of $775 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
- Louisa County in brief
- Work, industries and travel time in Louisa County
- Louisa County housing compared with Iowa
- Louisa County against other Iowa counties
- The $77,354 median and what sits around it
- Louisa County next to its neighbors
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Louisa County
- What a median Louisa County budget can carry
- Louisa County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Before borrowing in Louisa County
- Before you sign
- Licensing and complaints for Louisa County
- Keep exploring
- Frequently asked questions
Louisa County in brief
Roughly 10,678 residents live in Louisa County, Iowa, 68th by population among the state's 99 counties and county equivalents. Density: about 26.6 residents per square mile across 402 square miles of land. Metro status: none; Louisa County sits outside the 2023 OMB metro areas. The Census Bureau counts 9 places in the county (9 incorporated, 0 census-designated); the largest is Columbus Junction, with about 2,110 residents, or 20% of the county.
Work, industries and travel time in Louisa County
The biggest employer of Louisa County residents, by industry, is manufacturing at 28% of workers, followed by education and health care (20%). Compared with Iowa, the county leans toward manufacturing (28% against 15%). 3.0% of Louisa County's labor force reported being unemployed, averaged across 2020 to 2024. 17% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 4% work from home. Households without a car make up 5.5% of the total (5.4% statewide).
| Where residents work | Louisa County | Difference from Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 28.5% | +13.8 pts |
| Education and health care | 20.2% | -3.9 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.3% | -2.2 pts |
| Construction | 8.2% | +1.3 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 7.8% | +4.1 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 5.9% | +0.8 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.
Louisa County housing compared with Iowa
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $775 in Louisa County versus $972 statewide. By the Census definition, 31% of Louisa County renters are cost-burdened. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $150,100, about 1.9 times the median household income. The ownership rate is 80%. Half the housing stock was built before 1966.
| Measure | Louisa County | Iowa | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent-burdened renters | 31% | 44% | -13.1 pts |
| Owners | 80% | 72% | +8.6 pts |
| Burdened owners | 17% | 20% | -3.1 pts |
| Median home value | $150,100 | $208,000 | 28% lower |
| Median gross rent | $775/mo | $972/mo | 20% lower |
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).
Louisa County against other Iowa counties
The 3 Louisa County numbers that rank furthest from typical in Iowa, and what each means for a borrower:
- The share of workers who work from home: 4.2% in Louisa County. Only 1 of 99 Iowa counties are lower. Few remote jobs means most pay stubs come from local employers.
- Few Iowa counties match Louisa County on the share of mobile homes: 9.5% here, 3.2% for the state, ranking 2nd highest of 99. Manufactured homes often do not qualify for home equity loans, so unsecured loans fill the gap.
- Louisa County ranks 6th lowest of 99 Iowa counties for the share of adults with a bachelor's degree: 17%, against 31% statewide. Lenders weigh income and credit, not schooling.
The $77,354 median and what sits around it
$77,354 is the median household income for Louisa County, set against $75,059 for Iowa. In the state ranking that is 22nd of 99.
| Yearly household income | Louisa County | Gap to Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 19.8% | -1.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 43.5% | +0.7 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 31.5% | +4.0 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.1% | -3.4 pts |
Six-figure households (37%) outnumber those under $35,000 (20%) in Louisa County. 9.8% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 11.1%). Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
Louisa County next to its neighbors
Muscatine County is closest, 20 miles from center to center; the sixth, Henderson County, is 32 miles off. None of the six report a higher median household income than Louisa County; Washington County is highest at $75,647 and Henderson County lowest at $62,227. Some neighbors are in Illinois. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Louisa County resident follows Iowa rules.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Louisa County | - | $77,354 | $775/mo | 80% |
| Muscatine County, IA | 20 mi | $69,396 | $971/mo | 74% |
| Des Moines County, IA | 21 mi | $62,928 | $904/mo | 75% |
| Henry County, IA | 22 mi | $67,436 | $820/mo | 74% |
| Washington County, IA | 25 mi | $75,647 | $879/mo | 74% |
| Mercer County, IL | 27 mi | $74,182 | $786/mo | 84% |
| Henderson County, IL | 32 mi | $62,227 | $764/mo | 81% |
Cities, towns and CDPs in Louisa County
6,285 of Louisa County's 10,678 residents live in its 9 Census places (59%); the 9 largest are listed. Wapello ($72,708) and Morning Sun ($56,350) mark the top and bottom of Louisa County's income range among larger places. Median rent ranges from $623 in Columbus Junction to $869 in Morning Sun. From Columbus Junction to the smallest crossroads, Louisa County residents share this guide.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus Junction | city | 2,110 | $63,828 | $623 | 7 mi |
| Wapello | city | 1,765 | $72,708 | $711 | 5 mi |
| Morning Sun | city | 802 | $56,350 | $869 | 9 mi |
| Grandview | city | 449 | $57,625 | $856 | 5 mi |
| Letts | city | 361 | $76,538 | $950 | 8 mi |
| Columbus City | city | 323 | $89,875 | n/a | 7 mi |
| Fredonia | city | 240 | $85,625 | n/a | 6 mi |
| Oakville | city | 204 | $63,750 | $850 | 14 mi |
| Cotter | city | 31 | n/a | n/a | 12 mi |
What a median Louisa County budget can carry
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Louisa County's medians:
- Median income divided by twelve: $6,446 before taxes
- Rent at the median, $775, takes 12% of that
- Under a 36% cap, $2,321 total minus rent leaves $1,546
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Louisa County residents: age, schooling, coverage
Bachelor's degree or higher: 17% of Louisa County adults. About 5% go without health insurance.
| Measure | Louisa County | Gap to Iowa | Gap to typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's or higher | 16.8% | -14.6 pts | -5.4 pts |
| No high school diploma | 14.3% | +7.6 pts | n/a |
| Work from home | 4.2% | -7.1 pts | -4.5 pts |
| Median age | 41.9 | +3.3 yrs | +0.4 yrs |
| Poverty rate | 9.8% | -1.3 pts | -3.4 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.0% | -0.6 pts | -1.4 pts |
| No health insurance | 4.8% | -0.2 pts | -3.0 pts |
| No vehicle | 5.5% | 0.0 pts | 0.0 pts |
| One-way commute | Share of Louisa County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 27.5% |
| 15 to 29 min | 27.6% |
| 30 to 44 min | 27.6% |
| 45 to 59 min | 9.7% |
| 60+ min | 7.6% |
Before borrowing in Louisa County
A few patterns in the Louisa County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Consolidating cards in Louisa County. Compare the total repaid, not the monthly figure (how).
- Scams. A fee demanded before funding is a red flag; report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (spotting scams).
- Requirements. Lenders weigh credit history, documented income and existing debt (what to gather).
Before you sign
A short checklist for Louisa County borrowers:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Louisa County-area credit union.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Licensing and complaints for Louisa County
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Louisa County, check the Iowa Division of Banking. If a Louisa County lender ignores a dispute, the CFPB complaint portal is the federal backstop. State-level detail for Louisa County borrowers is in the Iowa guide.
Keep exploring
Statewide:
Frequently asked questions
Is Louisa County a high-income county?
Its $77,354 median ranks 22nd of 99 Iowa counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
Can a Louisa County renter afford a loan payment?
At the $775 median rent and $6,446 median monthly income, rent alone uses 12%; add other debts before a new payment.
Can Louisa County owners borrow against a $150,100 home?
Many can, through a home equity loan or line. It is secured by the house, so compare it with an unsecured personal loan before choosing.
Which towns does the Louisa County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 9 Census places: Columbus Junction, Wapello, Morning Sun, Grandview, Letts.
Are Louisa County applicants treated differently?
No. Everyone answers the same questions and is screened on the same objective points; lending partners set their own criteria under fair-lending laws.