1st Advantage MortgageIn Marshall County, Iowa, the typical household earns $73,315 a year and the typical rent is $885. 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
- Getting oriented in Marshall County
- Employment and commuting in Marshall County
- How much Marshall County households make
- What it costs to live in Marshall County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Marshall County
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- Who lives in Marshall County, in numbers
- Local borrowing considerations for Marshall County
- Debt-to-income at Marshall County's medians
- Checklist for Marshall County applicants
- Lender oversight for Marshall County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Marshall County
Roughly 40,114 residents live in Marshall County, Iowa, 15th by population among the state's 99 counties and county equivalents. Land area is 573 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 70 per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Marshall County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. The Census Bureau counts 14 places in the county (13 incorporated, 1 census-designated); the largest is Marshalltown, with about 27,626 residents, or 69% of the county.
Employment and commuting in Marshall County
The biggest employer of Marshall County residents, by industry, is manufacturing at 24% of workers, followed by education and health care (22%). Manufacturing stands out: 24% of workers here, versus 15% statewide. Averaged over the five survey years, 4.3% of the labor force was out of work and looking. 13% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 7% work from home.
| Where residents work | Marshall County | Difference from Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 23.9% | +9.2 pts |
| Education and health care | 22.2% | -1.9 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.7% | +0.2 pts |
| Construction | 7.3% | +0.4 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 6.6% | -1.0 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 5.0% | -1.9 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
How much Marshall County households make
Half of Marshall County households take in less than $73,315 a year and half take in more, 2% below the Iowa median of $75,059. In the state ranking that is 37th of 99.
| Band | Marshall County | Compared with Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 20.8% | -0.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 47.6% | +4.7 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 27.1% | -0.4 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.5% | -4.1 pts |
Some 21% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 32% have six-figure incomes. 11.2% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 11.1%). The Gini index of income inequality is 0.385 (0 is perfect equality). None of these numbers decides a Marshall County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
What it costs to live in Marshall County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $885 in Marshall County versus $972 statewide. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 32% of renter households here. With a median value of $145,500, a typical Marshall County house costs 2.0 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 75%. Median construction year: 1958.
| Measure | Marshall County | Iowa | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $885/mo | $972/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $145,500 | $208,000 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 75% | 72% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 32% | 44% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 22% | 20% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 9% | 8% | n/a |
Because most Marshall 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.
Cities, towns and CDPs in Marshall County
14 Census places fall mainly inside Marshall County; the 14 biggest are below. They account for 33,162 residents, leaving about 17% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Gilman has the highest median household income on the list ($101,136) and Marshalltown the lowest ($69,068), counting places with at least 500 residents. None of the 14 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marshalltown | city | 27,626 | $69,068 | $891 | 4 mi |
| State Center | city | 1,412 | $83,942 | $766 | 10 mi |
| Melbourne | city | 804 | $71,667 | $756 | 9 mi |
| Le Grand | city | 720 | $76,250 | $533 | 11 mi |
| Gilman | city | 623 | $101,136 | $678 | 15 mi |
| Albion | city | 622 | $91,250 | $781 | 5 mi |
| Liscomb | city | 298 | $84,042 | $1,031 | 10 mi |
| Laurel | city | 278 | $61,250 | $666 | 11 mi |
| Rhodes | city | 265 | $73,083 | $491 | 13 mi |
| Haverhill | city | 142 | $61,607 | n/a | 7 mi |
| Clemons | city | 108 | n/a | n/a | 10 mi |
| St. Anthony | city | 92 | $58,750 | n/a | 12 mi |
| Green Mountain | CDP | 87 | $36,696 | n/a | 9 mi |
| Ferguson | city | 85 | $52,500 | $1,125 | 9 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
Neighboring counties at a glance
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (23 to 34 miles). Grundy County leads the group on income ($87,205), Hardin County trails ($65,069), and Marshall County out-earns 5 of the six.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marshall County | - | $73,315 | $885/mo | 75% |
| Tama County, IA | 23 mi | $70,781 | $872/mo | 76% |
| Story County, IA | 25 mi | $69,685 | $1,018/mo | 56% |
| Jasper County, IA | 25 mi | $71,311 | $836/mo | 72% |
| Grundy County, IA | 27 mi | $87,205 | $774/mo | 84% |
| Hardin County, IA | 28 mi | $65,069 | $795/mo | 74% |
| Poweshiek County, IA | 34 mi | $67,391 | $883/mo | 71% |
Who lives in Marshall County, in numbers
23% of Marshall County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 5.8%, against 5.0% for Iowa.
| Indicator | Marshall County | All of Iowa | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.5 | 38.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 22.6% | 31.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 13.1% | 6.7% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.8% | 5.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.5% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 7.1% | 11.3% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 11.2% | 11.1% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.3% | 3.6% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Marshall County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 54.6% |
| 15 to 29 min | 24.1% |
| 30 to 44 min | 8.5% |
| 45 to 59 min | 6.1% |
| 60+ min | 6.6% |
Local borrowing considerations for Marshall County
Where the Marshall County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Advance-fee offers. No legitimate lender asks a Marshall County borrower to pay first (scam signs).
- Debt consolidation. One fixed payment can save money only if the written APR and fees beat what you pay now (guide).
- Paperwork. ID, proof of income and a bank account are the basics (requirements).
Debt-to-income at Marshall County's medians
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Marshall County's medians:
- $6,110 a month: gross income for a household at the Marshall County median
- Housing at the median rent of $885 uses 14%
- $1,314: what a 36% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Checklist for Marshall County applicants
Before you apply, wherever you live in Marshall County:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Marshall County-area credit union.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Ask a Marshall County credit union about member loans.
Lender oversight for Marshall County
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Marshall County, check the Iowa Division of Banking. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. See the Iowa state guide for the statewide picture.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Iowa guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Marshall County earn?
The median is $73,315; 32% earn $100,000 or more and 21% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
What do renters pay in Marshall County?
$885 a month at the median, about 14% of median household income.
Does this page cover Marshalltown?
Yes, along with the other 13 Census places in Marshall County, such as State Center, Melbourne, Le Grand.
Can Marshall 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.
Who regulates personal lenders for Marshall 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.