1st Advantage Mortgage33% of Sac County households earn $100,000 or more; the median is $73,838 (ACS 2020-24). 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
- 9,689 residents: Sac County basics
- Paychecks and income spread in Sac County
- Sac County industries and commutes
- Sac County's most unusual numbers
- Sac County housing compared with Iowa
- Regional comparison for Sac County
- The communities that make up Sac County
- What the numbers mean for Sac County borrowers
- A Sac County household budget, worked through
- Sac County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Iowa rules that apply in Sac County
- Four steps for Sac County borrowers
- More guides for Sac County
- Frequently asked questions
9,689 residents: Sac County basics
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Sac County's population at 9,689; only 75 of Iowa's 99 county-level areas are larger. Its 575 square miles average 17 people per square mile, by the 2024 Census Gazetteer. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Sac County is not part of any metropolitan area. The Census Bureau counts 8 places in the county (8 incorporated, 0 census-designated); the largest is Sac City, with about 1,885 residents, or 19% of the county. Because Sac County is small, the survey's margins of error are wide; treat the numbers as approximate.
Paychecks and income spread in Sac County
Sac County households have a median income of $73,838 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 31st of 99 in Iowa.
| Band | Sac County | Compared with Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 22.8% | +1.7 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 43.8% | +1.0 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 28.8% | +1.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.5% | -4.1 pts |
23% under $35,000 and 33% at $100,000 or more: that is the Sac County income split. The poverty rate is 9.2%, 2 points lower than the state's 11.1%. Gini index for Sac County: 0.413. None of these numbers decides a Sac County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Sac County industries and commutes
Top Sac County industry by residents employed: education and health care, 22%; second, manufacturing, 17%. Agriculture, forestry and mining stands out: 9% of workers here, versus 4% statewide. The survey's unemployment rate for Sac County averages 4.4% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 3.6%). 41% of Sac County workers get to work in under 15 minutes, while 11% need 45 or more. 227 Sac County households, 5.3%, have no vehicle.
| Sector | Sac County | Compared with Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 22.5% | -1.7 pts |
| Manufacturing | 16.6% | +1.9 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.1% | -0.4 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 8.9% | +5.2 pts |
| Construction | 7.3% | +0.3 pts |
| Other services | 6.3% | +1.9 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Sac County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Sac County's most unusual numbers
The 3 Sac County numbers that rank furthest from typical in Iowa, and what each means for a borrower:
- Sac County ranks 7th highest of 99 Iowa counties for median age: 46.2, against 38.6 statewide. Older borrowers often rely on fixed incomes, so a fixed payment helps.
- Sac County ranks 7th lowest of 99 Iowa counties for the share of workers who work from home: 4.7%, against 11.3% statewide. Few remote jobs means most pay stubs come from local employers.
- The housing vacancy rate: 16% in Sac County. Only 11 of 99 Iowa counties are higher. Many empty units can point to seasonal housing.
Sac County housing compared with Iowa
Renters in Sac County pay a median of $722 a month, 26% below the Iowa figure of $972. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 32% of renter households here. Sac County homes are worth $141,400 at the median, a 1.9-to-1 ratio to income. Owners occupy 78% of homes.
| Measure | Sac County | Iowa | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent-burdened renters | 32% | 44% | -11.5 pts |
| Owners | 78% | 72% | +6.3 pts |
| Median home value | $141,400 | $208,000 | 32% lower |
| Median gross rent | $722/mo | $972/mo | 26% lower |
| Mobile homes | 2.6% | 3.2% | -0.6 pts |
| Burdened owners | 20% | 20% | -0.3 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).
Regional comparison for Sac County
Distances run center to center, from Ida County at 21 miles out to Pocahontas County at 32. Income ranges from $61,875 in Pocahontas County to $72,930 in Carroll County; none of these neighbors top Sac County's median.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sac County | - | $73,838 | $722/mo | 78% |
| Ida County, IA | 21 mi | $63,073 | $696/mo | 73% |
| Calhoun County, IA | 24 mi | $64,964 | $723/mo | 81% |
| Buena Vista County, IA | 25 mi | $71,719 | $894/mo | 73% |
| Carroll County, IA | 27 mi | $72,930 | $731/mo | 77% |
| Crawford County, IA | 28 mi | $67,027 | $743/mo | 76% |
| Pocahontas County, IA | 32 mi | $61,875 | $832/mo | 77% |
The communities that make up Sac County
8 Census places fall mainly inside Sac County; the 8 biggest are below. They account for 6,374 residents, leaving about 34% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Early ($91,370) and Sac City ($57,139) mark the top and bottom of Sac County's income range among larger places. Median rent ranges from $620 in Early to $756 in Schaller. No Sac County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 8.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sac City | city | 1,885 | $57,139 | $669 | 6 mi |
| Lake View | city | 967 | $68,618 | $742 | 7 mi |
| Odebolt | city | 945 | $65,417 | $660 | 9 mi |
| Early | city | 869 | $91,370 | $620 | 6 mi |
| Schaller | city | 775 | $66,510 | $756 | 12 mi |
| Wall Lake | city | 725 | $71,875 | $637 | 8 mi |
| Auburn | city | 160 | $58,750 | $775 | 15 mi |
| Nemaha | city | 48 | $56,667 | n/a | 9 mi |
What the numbers mean for Sac County borrowers
- Benefit income. With half of residents older than 46, lenders often see pension and Social Security income, which counts like wages.
- Advance-fee offers. No legitimate lender asks a Sac County borrower to pay first (scam signs).
- Check your file. An error fixed before you apply can change the offers a Sac County borrower sees (free reports).
A Sac County household budget, worked through
Sac County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- $6,153 a month: gross income for a household at the Sac County median
- 12% goes to median rent ($722)
- Under a 40% cap, $2,461 total minus rent leaves $1,739
Two-income households and single earners in Sac County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Sac County residents: age, schooling, coverage
In Sac County, 22% of adults have at least a four-year degree (31% in Iowa). Health coverage gaps: 4.8% of Sac County residents are uninsured.
| Measure | Sac County | Gap to Iowa | Gap to typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's or higher | 22.3% | -9.1 pts | +0.2 pts |
| Median age | 46.2 | +7.6 yrs | +4.7 yrs |
| Work from home | 4.7% | -6.6 pts | -4.0 pts |
| Poverty rate | 9.2% | -1.9 pts | -4.0 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.4% | +0.9 pts | 0.0 pts |
| No high school diploma | 7.2% | +0.5 pts | n/a |
| No health insurance | 4.8% | -0.2 pts | -3.0 pts |
| No vehicle | 5.3% | -0.2 pts | -0.1 pts |
| One-way commute | Share of Sac County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 41.0% |
| 15 to 29 min | 32.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 15.7% |
| 45 to 59 min | 4.2% |
| 60+ min | 7.1% |
Iowa rules that apply in Sac County
Sac County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Iowa Division of Banking. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. The Iowa page has statewide figures to set beside Sac County's.
Four steps for Sac County borrowers
Steps that save money for Sac County residents:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Sac County.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
More guides for Sac County
The Iowa guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is $73,838 a good income in Sac County?
It is the county median, so half of Sac County households earn more and half less; 33% earn $100,000 or more.
What do renters pay in Sac County?
$722 a month at the median, about 12% of median household income.
Is home equity cheaper than a personal loan in Sac County?
Often, because the home secures it. With 78% of Sac County homes owner-occupied, weigh that lower cost against the risk to the house.
I live near Sac City. Which guide is mine?
This one. Sac City and the rest of Sac County have no separate city guide.
Will a Sac County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Iowa as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.