1st Advantage MortgageThe median Plymouth County household earns $83,251, and 7% of residents live below the poverty line. 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
- Plymouth County, IA: the basics
- How Plymouth County residents earn a living
- Income in Plymouth County compared with Iowa
- Rent, home values and ownership in Plymouth County
- Towns and communities in Plymouth County
- Counties near Plymouth County
- Plymouth County households compared
- Borrowing situations common in Plymouth County
- Debt-to-income at Plymouth County's medians
- Who licenses lenders for Plymouth County residents
- Before you sign
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Plymouth County, IA: the basics
With an estimated 25,747 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Plymouth County ranks 24th of 99 in Iowa for population. Spread over 863 square miles, that works out to roughly 29.8 residents per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Plymouth County is not part of any metropolitan area. Of the 12 Census places inside Plymouth County, Sioux City leads by population with about 86,101; 12 of the 12 are incorporated.
How Plymouth County residents earn a living
The biggest employer of Plymouth County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 22% of workers, followed by manufacturing (20%). The sharpest difference from the state is in manufacturing, at 20% locally and 15% for Iowa. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 2.2% in Plymouth County. Long commutes are the exception here: 7% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Plymouth County | Gap to Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 22.1% | -2.1 pts |
| Manufacturing | 19.6% | +4.9 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.0% | -2.5 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 8.7% | +3.6 pts |
| Construction | 6.4% | -0.6 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 6.1% | +2.4 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Plymouth County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Income in Plymouth County compared with Iowa
At $83,251, the typical Plymouth County household income is 27% above the median U.S. county ($65,681).
| Band | Plymouth County | Compared with Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 18.2% | -2.9 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 43.1% | +0.3 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 31.0% | +3.5 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 7.6% | -0.9 pts |
The spread is wide: 39% of Plymouth County households make $100,000 or more, and 18% make less than $35,000. Census counts 6.9% of Plymouth County residents in poverty, against 11.1% across Iowa. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.407 here. For a borrower in Plymouth 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.
Rent, home values and ownership in Plymouth County
Renters in Plymouth County pay a median of $910 a month, 6% below the Iowa figure of $972. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 31% of renter households here. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $228,900, about 2.7 times the median household income. The ownership rate is 74%.
| Housing | Plymouth County | Iowa statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $910/mo | $972/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $228,900 | $208,000 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 74% | 72% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 31% | 44% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 14% | 20% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 3.8% | 3.2% | n/a |
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).
Towns and communities in Plymouth County
Here are the 12 most populous of the county's 12 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 100% of Plymouth County residents live in one of the 12. Incomes vary by place: $114,531 at the median in Hinton, $66,250 in Akron. None of the 12 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sioux City | city | 86,101 | $68,906 | $976 | 19 mi |
| Le Mars | city | 10,640 | $74,701 | $929 | 4 mi |
| Remsen | city | 1,823 | $91,477 | $938 | 13 mi |
| Akron | city | 1,689 | $66,250 | $710 | 18 mi |
| Kingsley | city | 1,472 | $72,841 | $886 | 16 mi |
| Hinton | city | 931 | $114,531 | $979 | 9 mi |
| Merrill | city | 846 | $82,969 | $626 | 2 mi |
| Brunsville | city | 210 | $45,000 | $1,417 | 6 mi |
| Westfield | city | 123 | $68,125 | $993 | 20 mi |
| Oyens | city | 81 | $100,625 | n/a | 10 mi |
| Struble | city | 76 | $59,375 | n/a | 11 mi |
| Craig | city | 49 | $50,000 | $800 | 12 mi |
Counties near Plymouth County
Six nearby counties, 23 to 37 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. 2 of the six report a higher median household income than Plymouth County; Union County is highest at $89,636 and Dakota County lowest at $70,329. The list crosses into Nebraska, South Dakota, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plymouth County | - | $83,251 | $910/mo | 74% |
| Union County, SD | 23 mi | $89,636 | $1,069/mo | 73% |
| Sioux County, IA | 24 mi | $86,098 | $908/mo | 76% |
| Woodbury County, IA | 25 mi | $73,658 | $981/mo | 68% |
| Cherokee County, IA | 30 mi | $71,269 | $758/mo | 76% |
| Dakota County, NE | 30 mi | $70,329 | $1,069/mo | 64% |
| Dixon County, NE | 37 mi | $72,454 | $689/mo | 77% |
Plymouth County households compared
Degree holders: 22% of adults over 25. 5.3% of residents have no health coverage.
| Measure | Plymouth County | Iowa statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.3 | 38.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 21.7% | 31.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 5.2% | 6.7% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.3% | 5.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.8% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 9.2% | 11.3% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 6.9% | 11.1% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.2% | 3.6% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 47.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 26.9% |
| 30 to 44 min | 18.1% |
| 45 to 59 min | 4.0% |
| 60+ min | 3.1% |
Borrowing situations common in Plymouth County
What the Plymouth County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Combining balances. It helps when total cost falls and the cards stay paid down (consolidation).
- Advance-fee offers. No legitimate lender asks a Plymouth County borrower to pay first (scam signs).
- Requirements. Lenders weigh credit history, documented income and existing debt (what to gather).
Debt-to-income at Plymouth County's medians
Plymouth County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- Start: $6,938 gross per month ($83,251 / 12)
- Less median rent of $910, which is 13% of it
- $1,588: 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.
Who licenses lenders for Plymouth County residents
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Plymouth County, check the Iowa Division of Banking. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. More on Iowa: Iowa personal loans.
Before you sign
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Price the Plymouth County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Iowa guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Plymouth County?
$83,251 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $75,059 for Iowa. It ranks 11th of 99 in the state.
Is Plymouth County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $910 against $972 statewide, and 31% of renter households are cost-burdened.
I own my home in Plymouth County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 74% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
What are the biggest places in Plymouth County?
By population: Sioux City, Le Mars, Remsen, Akron, Kingsley. The county has 12 Census places in all.
Is the fit check different in Plymouth County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.