1st Advantage MortgageThe median Mahaska County household earns $70,940, and 13% of residents live below the poverty line. Whatever your own numbers, compare written offers on APR, fees and total cost, and verify the lender is licensed in Iowa before sharing details.
On this page
- Mahaska County, IA: the basics
- What Mahaska County households earn
- The Mahaska County job picture
- Rent, home values and ownership in Mahaska County
- Regional comparison for Mahaska County
- The communities that make up Mahaska County
- A Mahaska County household budget, worked through
- Who lives in Mahaska County, in numbers
- Local borrowing considerations for Mahaska County
- Four steps for Mahaska County borrowers
- Iowa rules that apply in Mahaska County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Mahaska County, IA: the basics
With an estimated 22,021 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Mahaska County ranks 28th of 99 in Iowa for population. Spread over 571 square miles, that works out to roughly 38.6 residents per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Mahaska County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Oskaloosa is the biggest of its 9 Census places, at roughly 11,504 people (52% of the county total).
What Mahaska County households earn
Mahaska County households have a median income of $70,940 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 52nd of 99 in Iowa.
| Income band | Share in Mahaska County | Difference from Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 24.1% | +2.9 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 44.5% | +1.7 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 26.6% | -0.9 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.8% | -3.8 pts |
About 24% of households earn under $35,000, while 31% clear $100,000. 12.6% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 11.1%). The Gini index of income inequality is 0.424 (0 is perfect equality). For a borrower in Mahaska County, the county median is only context: a lender looks at the income you can document, so pay stubs, benefit letters or tax returns matter more than any average.
The Mahaska County job picture
By the Census industry count, 25% of employed Mahaska County residents work in manufacturing and 21% in education and health care. Manufacturing stands out: 25% of workers here, versus 15% statewide. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 3.5% in Mahaska County. About 80% drive to work alone and 6% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Only 4.0% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Industry | Share of Mahaska County workers | vs Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 25.0% | +10.3 pts |
| Education and health care | 20.9% | -3.3 pts |
| Retail trade | 13.7% | +2.2 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 6.7% | +3.0 pts |
| Construction | 5.8% | -1.2 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 5.6% | -2.0 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Mahaska County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Rent, home values and ownership in Mahaska County
A typical Mahaska County rental runs $793 a month including utilities, which is 18% below Iowa. By the Census definition, 33% of Mahaska County renters are cost-burdened. With a median value of $157,800, a typical Mahaska County house costs 2.2 times what the median household earns in a year. 68% of Mahaska County households own their home and 32% rent. Median construction year: 1965.
| Measure | Mahaska County | Iowa | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $793/mo | $972/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $157,800 | $208,000 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 68% | 72% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 33% | 44% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 19% | 20% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 4.9% | 3.2% | n/a |
Regional comparison for Mahaska County
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (24 to 33 miles). 3 of the six report a higher median household income than Mahaska County; Marion County is highest at $78,680 and Keokuk County lowest at $62,329.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mahaska County | - | $70,940 | $793/mo | 68% |
| Marion County, IA | 24 mi | $78,680 | $884/mo | 78% |
| Wapello County, IA | 24 mi | $64,766 | $920/mo | 68% |
| Monroe County, IA | 24 mi | $70,996 | $798/mo | 81% |
| Keokuk County, IA | 24 mi | $62,329 | $828/mo | 81% |
| Poweshiek County, IA | 25 mi | $67,391 | $883/mo | 71% |
| Jasper County, IA | 33 mi | $71,311 | $836/mo | 72% |
The communities that make up Mahaska County
9 Census places fall mainly inside Mahaska County; the 9 biggest are below. They account for 16,414 residents, leaving about 25% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Incomes vary by place: $78,333 at the median in Fremont, $48,750 in New Sharon. Median rent ranges from $591 in Eddyville to $831 in Oskaloosa. None of the 9 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oskaloosa | city | 11,504 | $64,004 | $831 | 3 mi |
| New Sharon | city | 1,180 | $48,750 | $668 | 10 mi |
| Eddyville | city | 1,163 | $61,480 | $591 | 12 mi |
| Fremont | city | 924 | $78,333 | $798 | 13 mi |
| University Park | city | 645 | $74,167 | $739 | 3 mi |
| Beacon | city | 425 | $55,625 | $650 | 4 mi |
| Rose Hill | city | 300 | $82,917 | $1,047 | 9 mi |
| Leighton | city | 150 | $66,389 | $770 | 8 mi |
| Keomah Village | city | 123 | $79,688 | n/a | 6 mi |
A Mahaska County household budget, worked through
How much room does a median Mahaska County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- $5,912 a month: gross income for a household at the Mahaska County median
- Rent at the median, $793, takes 13% of that
- With a 40% ceiling, about $1,572 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
If your rent is above $793, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Who lives in Mahaska County, in numbers
24% of Mahaska County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 4.7%, against 5.0% for Iowa.
| Mahaska County | Iowa | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.0 | 38.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 24.1% | 31.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 6.5% | 6.7% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 4.7% | 5.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.0% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 7.5% | 11.3% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 12.6% | 11.1% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.5% | 3.6% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Mahaska County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 47.3% |
| 15 to 29 min | 34.3% |
| 30 to 44 min | 12.3% |
| 45 to 59 min | 3.5% |
| 60+ min | 2.6% |
Local borrowing considerations for Mahaska County
What the Mahaska County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Know your credit. Review all three bureau reports for free (AnnualCreditReport.com).
- Requirements. Lenders weigh credit history, documented income and existing debt (what to gather).
- Scams. A fee demanded before funding is a red flag; report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (spotting scams).
Four steps for Mahaska County borrowers
Quick steps for Mahaska County:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
Iowa rules that apply in Mahaska County
Before sharing details with a lender, a Mahaska County resident can confirm its license with the Iowa Division of Banking. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. Statewide data and rules: Iowa guide.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Iowa guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Mahaska County earn?
The median is $70,940; 31% earn $100,000 or more and 24% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
Is Mahaska County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $793 against $972 statewide, and 33% of renter households are cost-burdened.
What are the biggest places in Mahaska County?
By population: Oskaloosa, New Sharon, Eddyville, Fremont, University Park. The county has 9 Census places in all.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Mahaska County or elsewhere in Iowa, the same rules apply.
Who regulates personal lenders for Mahaska County residents?
The Iowa Division of Banking licenses consumer lenders in Iowa; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.