1st Advantage MortgageIn Lyon County, Iowa, the typical household earns $76,746 a year and the typical rent is $843. 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
- Lyon County by the numbers
- The Lyon County job picture
- Household income in Lyon County
- What it costs to live in Lyon County
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- Towns and communities in Lyon County
- Room for a loan payment in Lyon County
- Borrowing situations common in Lyon County
- Lyon County households compared
- A Lyon County borrower's checklist
- Checking a lender's license in Iowa
- More guides for Lyon County
- Frequently asked questions
Lyon County by the numbers
Roughly 12,162 residents live in Lyon County, Iowa, 62nd by population among the state's 99 counties and county equivalents. It covers 588 square miles of land, or about 21 people per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Lyon County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Rock Rapids is the biggest of its 8 Census places, at roughly 2,661 people (22% of the county total).
The Lyon County job picture
The biggest employer of Lyon County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 25% of workers, followed by manufacturing (16%). The sharpest difference from the state is in agriculture, forestry and mining, at 9% locally and 4% for Iowa. The survey's unemployment rate for Lyon County averages 2.3% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 3.6%). About 77% drive to work alone and 9% have trips of 45 minutes or more.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Lyon County | Gap to Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 24.5% | +0.4 pts |
| Manufacturing | 15.6% | +0.9 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.0% | -0.5 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 8.8% | +5.1 pts |
| Construction | 6.6% | -0.4 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 6.4% | -1.2 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Lyon County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Household income in Lyon County
Lyon County households have a median income of $76,746 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 24th of 99 in Iowa.
| Household income | Lyon County | vs Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 18.0% | -3.1 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 48.0% | +5.1 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 26.1% | -1.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 7.9% | -0.7 pts |
The spread is wide: 34% of Lyon County households make $100,000 or more, and 18% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 5.3%, 6 points lower than the state's 11.1%. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.415 (0 is perfect equality). 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 Lyon County
A typical Lyon County rental runs $843 a month including utilities, which is 13% below Iowa. 29% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 14% spend half or more. With a median value of $230,000, a typical Lyon County house costs 3.0 times what the median household earns in a year. 81% of Lyon County households own their home and 19% rent. Median construction year: 1967.
| Cost | Lyon County | Iowa figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $843/mo | $972/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $230,000 | $208,000 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 81% | 72% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 29% | 44% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 24% | 20% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 1.1% | 3.2% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 8% | 8% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Lyon County, many borrowers can also choose a home equity loan or line of credit. Those can price lower but put the house on the line, so compare the two in writing; our personal loan vs. HELOC guide walks through it.
Neighboring counties at a glance
Rock County is closest, 20 miles from center to center; the sixth, Minnehaha County, is 35 miles off. 3 of the six report a higher median household income than Lyon County; Lincoln County is highest at $99,166 and Nobles County lowest at $66,101. Some neighbors are in Minnesota and South Dakota. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Lyon County resident follows Iowa rules.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lyon County | - | $76,746 | $843/mo | 81% |
| Rock County, MN | 20 mi | $71,295 | $698/mo | 77% |
| Sioux County, IA | 21 mi | $86,098 | $908/mo | 76% |
| Lincoln County, SD | 27 mi | $99,166 | $1,260/mo | 71% |
| Osceola County, IA | 29 mi | $69,239 | $797/mo | 78% |
| Nobles County, MN | 30 mi | $66,101 | $896/mo | 74% |
| Minnehaha County, SD | 35 mi | $76,880 | $978/mo | 63% |
Towns and communities in Lyon County
Here are the 8 most populous of the county's 8 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 58% of Lyon County residents live in one of the 8. Larchwood has the highest median household income on the list ($67,188) and George the lowest ($57,941), counting places with at least 500 residents. Rent is cheapest in Doon ($510) and steepest in Inwood ($1,100). No Lyon County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 8.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rock Rapids | city | 2,661 | $63,942 | $812 | 4 mi |
| Larchwood | city | 1,136 | $67,188 | $867 | 13 mi |
| George | city | 1,064 | $57,941 | $810 | 11 mi |
| Inwood | city | 793 | $62,333 | $1,100 | 13 mi |
| Doon | city | 529 | $63,750 | $510 | 7 mi |
| Little Rock | city | 395 | $68,194 | $638 | 17 mi |
| Lester | city | 340 | $99,063 | n/a | 7 mi |
| Alvord | city | 173 | $73,594 | n/a | 6 mi |
Room for a loan payment in Lyon County
Lyon County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- Median income divided by twelve: $6,396 before taxes
- Rent at the median, $843, takes 13% of that
- At 36%, room after rent is $1,459 a month
If your rent is above $843, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Borrowing situations common in Lyon County
Where the Lyon 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).
- Check your file. An error fixed before you apply can change the offers a Lyon County borrower sees (free reports).
- Scams. A fee demanded before funding is a red flag; report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (spotting scams).
Lyon County households compared
20% of Lyon County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. 4.0% of residents have no health coverage.
| Lyon County | Iowa | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.2 | 38.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 20.4% | 31.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 4.7% | 6.7% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 4.0% | 5.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.6% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 9.8% | 11.3% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 5.3% | 11.1% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.3% | 3.6% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Lyon County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 47.7% |
| 15 to 29 min | 31.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 12.6% |
| 45 to 59 min | 5.2% |
| 60+ min | 3.5% |
A Lyon County borrower's checklist
Quick steps for Lyon County:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Lyon County-area credit union.
- Verify the Iowa license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
Checking a lender's license in Iowa
Lyon County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Iowa Division of Banking. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. See the Iowa state guide for the statewide picture.
More guides for Lyon County
For statewide rules and data, see the Iowa guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Lyon County earn?
The median is $76,746; 34% earn $100,000 or more and 18% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How much is rent in Lyon County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $843 a month; 29% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
I own my home in Lyon 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.
What are the biggest places in Lyon County?
By population: Rock Rapids, Larchwood, George, Inwood, Doon. The county has 8 Census places in all.
Can Lyon 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.