1st Advantage MortgageThe median Sioux County household earns $86,098, and 7% of residents live below the poverty line. 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
- Who lives in Sioux County
- Income in Sioux County compared with Iowa
- How Sioux County residents earn a living
- What it costs to live in Sioux County
- How Sioux County compares with nearby counties
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Sioux County
- A Sioux County household budget, worked through
- Who lives in Sioux County, in numbers
- Borrowing situations common in Sioux County
- Checklist for Sioux County applicants
- Who licenses lenders for Sioux County residents
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Sioux County
Sioux County is home to about 36,212 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 19th most populous of 99 county-level areas in Iowa. Land area is 768 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 47 per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Sioux County is not part of any metropolitan area. Sioux Center is the biggest of its 13 Census places, at roughly 8,454 people (23% of the county total).
Income in Sioux County compared with Iowa
Half of Sioux County households take in less than $86,098 a year and half take in more, 15% above the Iowa median of $75,059.
| Band | Sioux County | Compared with Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 17.5% | -3.6 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 39.8% | -3.1 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 32.7% | +5.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 10.0% | +1.4 pts |
The spread is wide: 43% of Sioux County households make $100,000 or more, and 18% make less than $35,000. Census counts 6.7% of Sioux County residents in poverty, against 11.1% across Iowa. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.409 (0 is perfect equality). None of these numbers decides a Sioux County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
How Sioux County residents earn a living
Education and health care employs 24% of working residents, the largest share; manufacturing is next with 17%. Compared with Iowa, the county leans toward agriculture, forestry and mining (9% against 4%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 1.5% in Sioux County. 5% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 13% work from home. Households without a car make up 2.9% of the total (5.4% statewide).
| Where residents work | Sioux County | Difference from Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 24.2% | 0.0 pts |
| Manufacturing | 16.9% | +2.1 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 9.5% | +5.7 pts |
| Construction | 8.7% | +1.8 pts |
| Retail trade | 8.6% | -2.9 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.1% | +0.2 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
What it costs to live in Sioux County
A typical Sioux County rental runs $908 a month including utilities, which is 7% below Iowa. 30% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 20% spend half or more. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $250,100, about 2.9 times the median household income. The ownership rate is 76%. Half the housing stock was built before 1973.
| Measure | Sioux County | Iowa | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $908/mo | $972/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $250,100 | $208,000 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 76% | 72% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 30% | 44% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 20% | 20% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 4% | 8% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Sioux 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.
How Sioux County compares with nearby counties
Lyon County is closest, 21 miles from center to center; the sixth, Osceola County, is 34 miles off. Income ranges from $68,356 in O'Brien County to $99,166 in Lincoln County; 2 of these neighbors top Sioux County's median. The list crosses into South Dakota, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sioux County | - | $86,098 | $908/mo | 76% |
| Lyon County, IA | 21 mi | $76,746 | $843/mo | 81% |
| Plymouth County, IA | 24 mi | $83,251 | $910/mo | 74% |
| O'Brien County, IA | 28 mi | $68,356 | $868/mo | 76% |
| Union County, SD | 30 mi | $89,636 | $1,069/mo | 73% |
| Lincoln County, SD | 31 mi | $99,166 | $1,260/mo | 71% |
| Osceola County, IA | 34 mi | $69,239 | $797/mo | 78% |
Cities, towns and CDPs in Sioux County
13 Census places fall mainly inside Sioux County; the 13 biggest are below. They account for 28,267 residents, leaving about 22% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Alton has the highest median household income on the list ($98,036) and Hospers the lowest ($69,444), counting places with at least 500 residents. Median rent ranges from $535 in Hull to $1,142 in Rock Valley. This guide covers each of the 13 places and the rural areas around them.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sioux Center | city | 8,454 | $92,983 | n/a | 1 mi |
| Orange City | city | 6,426 | $82,122 | $789 | 8 mi |
| Rock Valley | city | 4,059 | $76,250 | $1,142 | 10 mi |
| Hawarden | city | 2,658 | $74,167 | $933 | 16 mi |
| Hull | city | 2,317 | $72,344 | $535 | 8 mi |
| Alton | city | 1,459 | $98,036 | $813 | 11 mi |
| Hospers | city | 916 | $69,444 | $684 | 14 mi |
| Boyden | city | 757 | $88,125 | $756 | 11 mi |
| Ireton | city | 552 | $71,250 | $1,094 | 10 mi |
| Granville | city | 265 | $68,750 | n/a | 17 mi |
| Maurice | city | 206 | $68,750 | $1,063 | 8 mi |
| Matlock | city | 144 | $83,365 | n/a | 17 mi |
| Chatsworth | city | 54 | $44,375 | n/a | 21 mi |
A Sioux County household budget, worked through
Here is the Sioux County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- Monthly gross at the median, Sioux County: $7,175
- Less median rent of $908, which is 13% of it
- 36% debt-to-income limit: $1,675 left for all other debt payments
- $2,177: what a 43% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Who lives in Sioux County, in numbers
College graduates make up 31% of the adult population. The uninsured rate is 5.8%, against 5.0% for Iowa.
| Measure | Sioux County | Iowa statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 33.8 | 38.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 30.6% | 31.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 9.1% | 6.7% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.8% | 5.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 2.9% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 12.8% | 11.3% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 6.7% | 11.1% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 1.5% | 3.6% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Sioux County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 63.7% |
| 15 to 29 min | 27.5% |
| 30 to 44 min | 4.3% |
| 45 to 59 min | 1.7% |
| 60+ min | 2.9% |
Borrowing situations common in Sioux County
What the Sioux County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Strong incomes, long terms. 43% of Sioux County households earn $100,000+. The risk is a term that outlasts the need.
- Debt consolidation. One fixed payment can save money only if the written APR and fees beat what you pay now (guide).
- Know your credit. Review all three bureau reports for free (AnnualCreditReport.com).
Checklist for Sioux County applicants
Before you apply, wherever you live in Sioux County:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Sioux County-area credit union.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Iowa borrowers.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
Who licenses lenders for Sioux County residents
Before sharing details with a lender, a Sioux County resident can confirm its license with the Iowa Division of Banking. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. More on Iowa: Iowa personal loans.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Iowa guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Sioux County earn?
The median is $86,098; 43% earn $100,000 or more and 18% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
Is Sioux County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $908 against $972 statewide, and 30% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Does this page cover Sioux Center?
Yes, along with the other 12 Census places in Sioux County, such as Orange City, Rock Valley, Hawarden.
Will a Sioux County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Iowa as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Sioux County?
Start with the Iowa Division of Banking, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.