1st Advantage MortgageAbout 76% of Monona County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $68,377. 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
- Monona County by the numbers
- How much Monona County households make
- Employment and commuting in Monona County
- Monona County housing compared with Iowa
- How Monona County compares with nearby counties
- Places inside Monona County
- A Monona County household budget, worked through
- More Monona County figures
- Local borrowing considerations for Monona County
- Who licenses lenders for Monona County residents
- Checklist for Monona County applicants
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Monona County by the numbers
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Monona County's population at 8,557; only 84 of Iowa's 99 county-level areas are larger. Land area is 694 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 12 per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Onawa is the biggest of its 10 Census places, at roughly 2,839 people (33% of the county total). Small populations mean wide margins of error, so read every Monona County figure on this page as a rough guide.
How much Monona County households make
At $68,377, the typical Monona County household income is 4% above the median U.S. county ($65,681).
| Households earning | Monona County | +/- vs Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 25.2% | +4.1 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 45.4% | +2.5 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 24.3% | -3.2 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.2% | -3.4 pts |
About 25% of households earn under $35,000, while 29% clear $100,000. The poverty rate is 10.6%, the same as the state's 11.1%. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.413 (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.
Employment and commuting in Monona County
Education and health care employs 26% of working residents, the largest share; agriculture, forestry and mining is next with 11%. Agriculture, forestry and mining stands out: 11% of workers here, versus 4% statewide. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 1.6% in Monona County. Long commutes are the exception here: 14% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Households without a car make up 4.2% of the total (5.4% statewide).
| Industry | Share of Monona County workers | vs Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 25.8% | +1.6 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 11.3% | +7.6 pts |
| Manufacturing | 10.6% | -4.1 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.0% | -1.5 pts |
| Construction | 8.5% | +1.6 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.4% | -0.2 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Monona County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Monona County housing compared with Iowa
Renters in Monona County pay a median of $855 a month, 12% below the Iowa figure of $972. 40% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 21% spend half or more. With a median value of $142,900, a typical Monona County house costs 2.1 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 76% of homes. The median home was built in 1956, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Housing | Monona County | Iowa statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $855/mo | $972/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $142,900 | $208,000 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 76% | 72% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 40% | 44% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 26% | 20% | n/a |
Because most Monona 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.
How Monona County compares with nearby counties
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (24 to 33 miles). 3 of the six report a higher median household income than Monona County; Harrison County is highest at $79,535 and Ida County lowest at $63,073. The list crosses into Nebraska, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monona County | - | $68,377 | $855/mo | 76% |
| Burt County, NE | 24 mi | $63,685 | $708/mo | 75% |
| Woodbury County, IA | 24 mi | $73,658 | $981/mo | 68% |
| Harrison County, IA | 26 mi | $79,535 | $849/mo | 77% |
| Crawford County, IA | 29 mi | $67,027 | $743/mo | 76% |
| Thurston County, NE | 30 mi | $69,177 | $699/mo | 61% |
| Ida County, IA | 33 mi | $63,073 | $696/mo | 73% |
Places inside Monona County
Here are the 10 most populous of the county's 10 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 69% of Monona County residents live in one of the 10. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $55,208 in Mapleton to $73,333 in Whiting. Median rent ranges from $846 in Mapleton to $1,037 in Onawa. No Monona County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 10.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Onawa | city | 2,839 | $62,143 | $1,037 | 7 mi |
| Mapleton | city | 989 | $55,208 | $846 | 12 mi |
| Whiting | city | 777 | $73,333 | $923 | 11 mi |
| Ute | city | 351 | $55,341 | $725 | 13 mi |
| Blencoe | city | 280 | $86,875 | $857 | 10 mi |
| Moorhead | city | 195 | $45,000 | $1,016 | 10 mi |
| Castana | city | 162 | $55,469 | $638 | 3 mi |
| Soldier | city | 133 | $56,250 | $663 | 10 mi |
| Turin | city | 131 | $94,129 | n/a | 2 mi |
| Rodney | city | 39 | $51,563 | n/a | 11 mi |
A Monona County household budget, worked through
Here is the Monona County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- $68,377 a year is $5,698 of gross monthly income
- Rent at the median, $855, takes 15% of that
- At 40%, room after rent is $1,424 a month
Two-income households and single earners in Monona County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
More Monona County figures
College graduates make up 20% of the adult population. The uninsured rate is 3.9%, against 5.0% for Iowa.
| People and households | Monona County | Iowa | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.7 | 38.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 19.6% | 31.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 7.5% | 6.7% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 3.9% | 5.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.2% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 7.7% | 11.3% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 10.6% | 11.1% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 1.6% | 3.6% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 45.2% |
| 15 to 29 min | 26.9% |
| 30 to 44 min | 14.1% |
| 45 to 59 min | 5.5% |
| 60+ min | 8.4% |
Local borrowing considerations for Monona County
A few patterns in the Monona County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Credit reports. Pull free reports at AnnualCreditReport.com and dispute errors before applying.
- Fraud. Gift cards, wire transfers or fees to unlock a loan mean walk away (report it).
- Combining balances. It helps when total cost falls and the cards stay paid down (consolidation).
Who licenses lenders for Monona 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 Monona County applicants
Before you apply, wherever you live in Monona County:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- A Iowa license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Iowa guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Monona County?
$68,377 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $75,059 for Iowa. It ranks 61st of 99 in the state.
How does Monona County rent compare with Iowa?
$855 locally versus $972 for the state, 12% below.
I own my home in Monona County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 76% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
What are the biggest places in Monona County?
By population: Onawa, Mapleton, Whiting, Ute, Blencoe. The county has 10 Census places in all.
Are Monona 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.