1st Advantage MortgageAbout 84% of Mills County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $90,753. 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
- Who lives in Mills County
- Household income in Mills County
- What it costs to live in Mills County
- Work, industries and travel time in Mills County
- The communities that make up Mills County
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- Mills County households compared
- Reading the Mills County data as a borrower
- What a median Mills County budget can carry
- Who licenses lenders for Mills County residents
- Checklist for Mills County applicants
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Mills County
With an estimated 14,568 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Mills County ranks 53rd of 99 in Iowa for population. Land area is 437 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 33 per square mile. It is one of the counties that make up the Omaha, NE-IA metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). Glenwood is the biggest of its 9 Census places, at roughly 5,144 people (35% of the county total).
Household income in Mills County
Half of Mills County households take in less than $90,753 a year and half take in more, 21% above the Iowa median of $75,059. In the state ranking that is 4th of 99.
| Income band | Share in Mills County | Difference from Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 17.1% | -4.0 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 36.6% | -6.2 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 35.5% | +8.0 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 10.8% | +2.2 pts |
The spread is wide: 46% of Mills County households make $100,000 or more, and 17% make less than $35,000. Census counts 8.2% of Mills County residents in poverty, against 11.1% across Iowa. If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Mills County median.
What it costs to live in Mills County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $959 in Mills County versus $972 statewide. 35% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 19% spend half or more. Home values center on $237,800, or 2.6 years of median income. 84% of Mills County households own their home and 16% rent. Median construction year: 1972.
| Cost | Mills County | Iowa figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $959/mo | $972/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $237,800 | $208,000 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 84% | 72% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 35% | 44% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 24% | 20% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Mills 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.
Work, industries and travel time in Mills County
By the Census industry count, 28% of employed Mills County residents work in education and health care and 12% in retail trade. The sharpest difference from the state is in education and health care, at 28% locally and 24% for Iowa. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 2.0% in Mills County. Long commutes are the exception here: 11% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Households without a car make up 4.8% of the total (5.4% statewide).
| Industry | Share of Mills County workers | vs Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 27.9% | +3.7 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.5% | 0.0 pts |
| Construction | 8.9% | +2.0 pts |
| Manufacturing | 8.3% | -6.4 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.7% | 0.0 pts |
| Other services | 7.1% | +2.8 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Mills County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
The communities that make up Mills County
The table lists the 9 largest of 9 Census places in Mills County, by population. Together all 9 hold about 8,985 people, so roughly 38% of residents live outside any named place. Malvern has the highest median household income on the list ($84,223) and Emerson the lowest ($49,063), counting places with at least 500 residents. Rent is cheapest in Tabor ($289) and steepest in Silver City ($1,188). Live in one of these Mills County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glenwood | city | 5,144 | $71,790 | $924 | 6 mi |
| Malvern | city | 1,323 | $84,223 | $839 | 3 mi |
| Tabor | city | 877 | $58,750 | $289 | 10 mi |
| Emerson | city | 570 | $49,063 | $1,034 | 11 mi |
| Silver City | city | 504 | $67,250 | $1,188 | 5 mi |
| Hastings | city | 164 | $84,375 | n/a | 7 mi |
| Pacific Junction | city | 150 | n/a | n/a | 9 mi |
| Henderson | city | 143 | $54,375 | n/a | 12 mi |
| Mineola | CDP | 110 | n/a | n/a | 8 mi |
Neighboring counties at a glance
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (20 to 32 miles). Income ranges from $57,953 in Page County to $103,321 in Sarpy County; 2 of these neighbors top Mills County's median. Some neighbors are in Nebraska. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Mills County resident follows Iowa rules.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mills County | - | $90,753 | $959/mo | 84% |
| Fremont County, IA | 20 mi | $71,621 | $746/mo | 78% |
| Pottawattamie County, IA | 22 mi | $73,602 | $1,018/mo | 70% |
| Montgomery County, IA | 24 mi | $63,666 | $814/mo | 69% |
| Sarpy County, NE | 26 mi | $103,321 | $1,334/mo | 70% |
| Cass County, NE | 29 mi | $91,836 | $996/mo | 85% |
| Page County, IA | 32 mi | $57,953 | $705/mo | 71% |
Mills County households compared
Degree holders: 31% of adults over 25. The uninsured rate is 2.7%, against 5.0% for Iowa.
| People and households | Mills County | Iowa | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.1 | 38.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 31.0% | 31.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 3.4% | 6.7% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 2.7% | 5.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.8% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 10.1% | 11.3% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 8.2% | 11.1% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.0% | 3.6% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Mills County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 22.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 32.1% |
| 30 to 44 min | 34.1% |
| 45 to 59 min | 7.5% |
| 60+ min | 3.5% |
Reading the Mills County data as a borrower
Based on the Mills County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Six-figure budgets. For the 46% earning $100,000 or more, lifestyle creep, not approval, is the usual problem.
- Getting ready. Gather pay stubs or benefit letters before you apply (checklist).
- Fraud. Gift cards, wire transfers or fees to unlock a loan mean walk away (report it).
What a median Mills County budget can carry
Here is the Mills County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- Start: $7,563 gross per month ($90,753 / 12)
- Housing at the median rent of $959 uses 13%
- 36% debt-to-income limit: $1,764 left for all other debt payments
- Under a 43% cap, $3,252 total minus rent leaves $2,293
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Mills County's.
Who licenses lenders for Mills County residents
The Iowa Division of Banking is the place to verify any lender's Iowa license. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. Statewide data and rules: Iowa guide.
Checklist for Mills County applicants
A short checklist for Mills County borrowers:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Mills County.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- A Iowa license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Keep a small cushion so one surprise bill does not mean another loan.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Iowa guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Mills County earn?
The median is $90,753; 46% earn $100,000 or more and 17% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How does Mills County rent compare with Iowa?
$959 locally, close to the state figure.
Does this page cover Glenwood?
Yes, along with the other 8 Census places in Mills County, such as Malvern, Tabor, Emerson.
Are Mills 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.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Mills County?
Start with the Iowa Division of Banking, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.