1st Advantage MortgageAbout 76% of O'Brien County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $68,356. County medians do not set your terms. Shop at least three lenders, including a credit union serving O'Brien County, and confirm each one's Iowa license.
On this page
- A quick profile of O'Brien County
- The O'Brien County housing market in figures
- Work, industries and travel time in O'Brien County
- How much O'Brien County households make
- O'Brien County at the extremes
- Census places in O'Brien County
- Nearby counties: income, rent, ownership
- A O'Brien County household budget, worked through
- Borrowing situations common in O'Brien County
- O'Brien County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Checking a lender's license in Iowa
- Before you sign
- Other Iowa guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of O'Brien County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts O'Brien County's population at 14,126; only 55 of Iowa's 99 county-level areas are larger. Land area is 573 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 25 per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Largest place: Sheldon, about 5,474 residents (39% of O'Brien County); 8 Census places in all.
The O'Brien County housing market in figures
Half of O'Brien County renters pay more than $868 a month and half pay less; the Iowa midpoint is $972. About 3 in 10 O'Brien County renters pay 30% or more of income for rent. Median value $173,100; median income $68,356; ratio 2.5. The ownership rate is 76%. The median home was built in 1959, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Home costs | O'Brien County | Iowa | Compared with Iowa |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent-burdened renters | 32% | 44% | -12.0 pts |
| Owners | 76% | 72% | +4.4 pts |
| Median home value | $173,100 | $208,000 | 17% lower |
| Burdened owners | 22% | 20% | +1.4 pts |
| Median gross rent | $868/mo | $972/mo | 11% lower |
| Mobile homes | 2.4% | 3.2% | -0.8 pts |
Owners with equity have a second option. Weigh a secured line against an unsecured loan by risk as well as cost before you choose (how they compare).
Work, industries and travel time in O'Brien County
Top O'Brien County industry by residents employed: education and health care, 25%; second, manufacturing, 17%. The sharpest difference from the state is in agriculture, forestry and mining, at 9% locally and 4% for Iowa. Averaged over the five survey years, 1.0% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Commutes of 45 minutes-plus: 9%; under 15 minutes: 52%. Households without a car make up 4.7% of the total (5.4% statewide).
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | O'Brien County | Gap to Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 25.2% | +1.0 pts |
| Manufacturing | 17.5% | +2.8 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.1% | +0.5 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 9.5% | +5.7 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 5.9% | +0.7 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 5.0% | -2.0 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 O'Brien County households make
At $68,356, the typical O'Brien County household income is 4% above the median U.S. county ($65,681).
| Household income | O'Brien County | vs Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 21.2% | +0.1 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 47.1% | +4.3 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 27.3% | -0.2 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.4% | -4.2 pts |
Six-figure households (32%) outnumber those under $35,000 (21%) in O'Brien County. O'Brien County counts about 1,881 residents below the poverty line, 13.3% of the population. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.392 here. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
O'Brien County at the extremes
- The ACS unemployment rate: 1.0% in O'Brien County. Only 1 of 99 Iowa counties are lower. A tight job market helps steady income, but lenders still verify it.
- The uninsured rate: 3.0% in O'Brien County. Only 9 of 99 Iowa counties are lower. Lower uninsured rates still leave deductibles; check what a plan covers first.
- Few Iowa counties match O'Brien County on the share of renters paying 30% or more of income for rent: 32% here, 44% for the state, ranking 20th lowest of 99. Lower rent burdens mean more renters have slack, but test your own numbers.
Census places in O'Brien County
8 Census places fall mainly inside O'Brien County; the 8 biggest are below. They account for 11,105 residents, leaving about 21% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Primghar ($78,750) and Sutherland ($55,469) mark the top and bottom of O'Brien County's income range among larger places. Sheldon and every other O'Brien County community use this county guide.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sheldon | city | 5,474 | $62,159 | $930 | 13 mi |
| Hartley | city | 1,553 | $57,656 | $779 | 10 mi |
| Sanborn | city | 1,323 | $59,417 | $954 | 7 mi |
| Primghar | city | 1,014 | $78,750 | $792 | 0 mi |
| Paullina | city | 869 | $61,250 | $864 | 8 mi |
| Sutherland | city | 629 | $55,469 | $581 | 10 mi |
| Archer | city | 130 | $71,875 | n/a | 6 mi |
| Calumet | city | 113 | $58,750 | n/a | 10 mi |
Nearby counties: income, rent, ownership
The six counties whose centers lie closest to O'Brien County's, from 20 to 34 miles away. Income ranges from $65,428 in Clay County to $86,098 in Sioux County; 5 of these neighbors top O'Brien County's median.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| O'Brien County | - | $68,356 | $868/mo | 76% |
| Osceola County, IA | 20 mi | $69,239 | $797/mo | 78% |
| Cherokee County, IA | 24 mi | $71,269 | $758/mo | 76% |
| Clay County, IA | 24 mi | $65,428 | $811/mo | 73% |
| Sioux County, IA | 28 mi | $86,098 | $908/mo | 76% |
| Dickinson County, IA | 30 mi | $75,432 | $922/mo | 77% |
| Buena Vista County, IA | 34 mi | $71,719 | $894/mo | 73% |
A O'Brien County household budget, worked through
DTI math using O'Brien County medians ($68,356 income, $868 rent):
- Monthly gross at the median, O'Brien County: $5,696
- Median rent: $868, or 15 cents of every gross dollar
- 35% debt-to-income limit: $1,126 left for all other debt payments
- 45% debt-to-income limit: $1,695 left for all other debt payments
If your rent is above $868, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Borrowing situations common in O'Brien County
Where the O'Brien County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Combining balances. It helps when total cost falls and the cards stay paid down (consolidation).
- Getting ready. Gather pay stubs or benefit letters before you apply (checklist).
- Advance-fee offers. No legitimate lender asks a O'Brien County borrower to pay first (scam signs).
O'Brien County residents: age, schooling, coverage
22% of O'Brien County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. 3.0% of residents have no health coverage.
| O'Brien County | vs Iowa | vs U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's or higher | 22.0% | -9.4 pts | -0.1 pts |
| Work from home | 7.1% | -4.2 pts | -1.6 pts |
| No high school diploma | 9.5% | +2.7 pts | n/a |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 1.0% | -2.6 pts | -3.4 pts |
| Poverty rate | 13.3% | +2.2 pts | +0.1 pts |
| No health insurance | 3.0% | -2.0 pts | -4.8 pts |
| Median age | 39.5 | +0.9 yrs | -2.0 yrs |
| No vehicle | 4.7% | -0.7 pts | -0.7 pts |
| Commute length | O'Brien County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 51.6% |
| 15 to 29 min | 25.2% |
| 30 to 44 min | 13.9% |
| 45 to 59 min | 4.2% |
| 60+ min | 5.0% |
Checking a lender's license in Iowa
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.
Before you sign
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Verify the Iowa license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Other Iowa guides
The Iowa guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is O'Brien County a high-income county?
Its $68,356 median ranks 62nd of 99 Iowa counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
What do renters pay in O'Brien County?
$868 a month at the median, about 15% of median household income.
I own my home in O'Brien 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.
I live in a small O'Brien County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Sheldon, Hartley, Sanborn, Primghar, Paullina and 3 more.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in O'Brien County or elsewhere in Iowa, the same rules apply.