1st Advantage MortgagePocahontas County households have a median income of $61,875 and median rent of $832 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). Use those as context only. A lender looks at your own documented income and debts; compare APR and total repaid on every Pocahontas County offer.
On this page
- Population and place: Pocahontas County
- What Pocahontas County households earn
- Jobs and commutes in Pocahontas County
- How Pocahontas County ranks in Iowa
- Pocahontas County housing compared with Iowa
- Regional comparison for Pocahontas County
- Towns and communities in Pocahontas County
- Reading the Pocahontas County data as a borrower
- Who lives in Pocahontas County, in numbers
- Room for a loan payment in Pocahontas County
- Checklist for Pocahontas County applicants
- Licensing and complaints for Pocahontas County
- More guides for Pocahontas County
- Frequently asked questions
Population and place: Pocahontas County
Pocahontas County is home to about 7,046 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 91st most populous of 99 county-level areas in Iowa. Pocahontas County spans 577 square miles; with 7,046 people, that is 12.2 per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Pocahontas County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Of the 9 Census places inside Pocahontas County, Pocahontas leads by population with about 1,763; 9 of the 9 are incorporated. Small populations mean wide margins of error, so read every Pocahontas County figure on this page as a rough guide.
What Pocahontas County households earn
Half of Pocahontas County households take in less than $61,875 a year and half take in more, 18% below the Iowa median of $75,059.
| Household income | Pocahontas County | vs Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 23.6% | +2.5 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 48.7% | +5.9 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 24.0% | -3.5 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.7% | -4.9 pts |
24% under $35,000 and 28% at $100,000 or more: that is the Pocahontas County income split. The poverty rate is 10.3%, 1 point lower than the state's 11.1%. A household earning below the $61,875 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Jobs and commutes in Pocahontas County
Top Pocahontas County industry by residents employed: education and health care, 21%; second, manufacturing, 16%. Relative to Iowa (4%), agriculture, forestry and mining is 9 points bigger in Pocahontas County (13%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 5.4% in Pocahontas County. 49% of Pocahontas County workers get to work in under 15 minutes, while 12% need 45 or more. No car: 4.6% of Pocahontas County households.
| Top industries | Pocahontas County share | +/- vs Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 20.8% | -3.4 pts |
| Manufacturing | 16.1% | +1.4 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 12.7% | +9.0 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.5% | +1.0 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 9.0% | +3.9 pts |
| Construction | 7.2% | +0.2 pts |
Self-employed in Pocahontas County? Two years of tax returns usually stand in for pay stubs.
How Pocahontas County ranks in Iowa
Ranked against the other 98 county-level areas in Iowa, these are the Pocahontas County figures furthest from the middle.
- On median home value, Pocahontas County sits near the bottom of Iowa at $98,100, the lowest of 99. Lower values mean less equity to tap, so unsecured loans are the usual route.
- On the ACS unemployment rate, Pocahontas County sits near the top of Iowa at 5.4%, 4th highest of 99. If work is uncertain, keep any loan small and the term short.
- Few Iowa counties match Pocahontas County on the housing vacancy rate: 18% here, 8% for the state, ranking 6th highest of 99. High vacancy often reflects seasonal or second homes.
Pocahontas County housing compared with Iowa
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $832 in Pocahontas County versus $972 statewide. Cost-burdened renters, paying 30%-plus of income: 41% in Pocahontas County, 44% statewide. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $98,100, about 1.6 times the median household income. In Pocahontas County, 77% of occupied homes are owned by the people living in them. Half the housing stock was built before 1950.
| Home costs | Pocahontas County | Iowa | Compared with Iowa |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $832/mo | $972/mo | 14% lower |
| Median home value | $98,100 | $208,000 | 53% lower |
| Owners | 77% | 72% | +5.6 pts |
| Rent-burdened renters | 41% | 44% | -3.1 pts |
| Burdened owners | 17% | 20% | -3.7 pts |
| Vacant units | 18% | 8% | +9.3 pts |
In an owner-heavy county like Pocahontas 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.
Regional comparison for Pocahontas County
Distances run center to center, from Buena Vista County at 24 miles out to Webster County at 33. All of the six report a higher median household income than Pocahontas County; Sac County is highest at $73,838 and Calhoun County lowest at $64,964.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pocahontas County | - | $61,875 | $832/mo | 77% |
| Buena Vista County, IA | 24 mi | $71,719 | $894/mo | 73% |
| Palo Alto County, IA | 24 mi | $72,781 | $638/mo | 77% |
| Calhoun County, IA | 24 mi | $64,964 | $723/mo | 81% |
| Humboldt County, IA | 24 mi | $71,946 | $744/mo | 77% |
| Sac County, IA | 32 mi | $73,838 | $722/mo | 78% |
| Webster County, IA | 33 mi | $68,975 | $785/mo | 70% |
Towns and communities in Pocahontas County
Places, by size: the top 9 of 9. Roughly 25% of Pocahontas County lives outside all of them, in open country or unnamed settlements. Pocahontas has the highest median household income on the list ($66,574) and Laurens the lowest ($48,988), counting places with at least 500 residents. No Pocahontas County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 9.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pocahontas | city | 1,763 | $66,574 | $932 | 1 mi |
| Laurens | city | 1,206 | $48,988 | $805 | 12 mi |
| Gilmore City | city | 748 | $53,375 | n/a | 12 mi |
| Rolfe | city | 626 | $51,250 | $583 | 9 mi |
| Fonda | city | 589 | $54,853 | $546 | 14 mi |
| Havelock | city | 162 | $63,229 | $625 | 7 mi |
| Palmer | city | 134 | $59,063 | n/a | 8 mi |
| Plover | city | 45 | $41,250 | n/a | 10 mi |
| Varina | city | 29 | $50,625 | n/a | 12 mi |
Reading the Pocahontas County data as a borrower
Based on the Pocahontas County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Requirements. Lenders weigh credit history, documented income and existing debt (what to gather).
- Debt consolidation. One fixed payment can save money only if the written APR and fees beat what you pay now (guide).
- Check your file. An error fixed before you apply can change the offers a Pocahontas County borrower sees (free reports).
Who lives in Pocahontas County, in numbers
In Pocahontas County, 19% of adults have at least a four-year degree (31% in Iowa). Health coverage gaps: 7.6% of Pocahontas County residents are uninsured.
| Pocahontas County | vs Iowa | vs U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's or higher | 18.7% | -12.8 pts | -3.5 pts |
| Work from home | 5.4% | -5.9 pts | -3.3 pts |
| Median age | 43.7 | +5.1 yrs | +2.2 yrs |
| No high school diploma | 9.4% | +2.7 pts | n/a |
| No health insurance | 7.6% | +2.6 pts | -0.2 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.4% | +1.8 pts | +1.0 pts |
| No vehicle | 4.6% | -0.8 pts | -0.8 pts |
| Poverty rate | 10.3% | -0.7 pts | -2.8 pts |
| Commute length | Pocahontas County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 48.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 25.5% |
| 30 to 44 min | 13.6% |
| 45 to 59 min | 3.8% |
| 60+ min | 8.3% |
Room for a loan payment in Pocahontas County
DTI math using Pocahontas County medians ($61,875 income, $832 rent):
- Median income divided by twelve: $5,156 before taxes
- Median rent: $832, or 16 cents of every gross dollar
- At 36%, room after rent is $1,024 a month
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Checklist for Pocahontas County applicants
Steps that save money for Pocahontas County residents:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- A Iowa license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Licensing and complaints for Pocahontas County
Consumer lenders serving Pocahontas County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Iowa that is the Iowa Division of Banking. If a Pocahontas County lender ignores a dispute, the CFPB complaint portal is the federal backstop. More on Iowa: Iowa personal loans.
More guides for Pocahontas County
The Iowa guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is Pocahontas County a high-income county?
Its $61,875 median ranks 89th of 99 Iowa counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
What is the median rent in Pocahontas County, IA?
$832 a month, utilities included, or $9,984 a year.
Is home equity cheaper than a personal loan in Pocahontas County?
Often, because the home secures it. With 77% of Pocahontas County homes owner-occupied, weigh that lower cost against the risk to the house.
How many towns are in Pocahontas County?
The Census Bureau counts 9 places mainly in the county, led by Pocahontas, Laurens, Gilmore City, Rolfe, Fonda.
Does living in Pocahontas County change what I qualify for?
Not in our fit check, which uses only the amount, credit range, income and payments you enter, the same for a Pocahontas County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.