1st Advantage MortgageAbout 68% of Wapello County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $64,766. 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
- Getting oriented in Wapello County
- Paychecks and income spread in Wapello County
- Work, industries and travel time in Wapello County
- Housing costs in Wapello County
- Towns and communities in Wapello County
- Wapello County and the counties next door
- Wapello County households compared
- Borrowing situations common in Wapello County
- A Wapello County household budget, worked through
- Who licenses lenders for Wapello County residents
- Four steps for Wapello County borrowers
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Wapello County
Wapello County is home to about 35,362 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 20th most populous of 99 county-level areas in Iowa. Packed into 432 square miles, that is close to 82 residents for every square mile of land. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Of the 6 Census places inside Wapello County, Ottumwa leads by population with about 25,430; 6 of the 6 are incorporated.
Paychecks and income spread in Wapello County
Wapello County households have a median income of $64,766 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 79th of 99 in Iowa.
| Band | Wapello County | Compared with Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 26.5% | +5.4 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 46.0% | +3.1 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 23.3% | -4.1 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.2% | -4.4 pts |
The spread is wide: 28% of Wapello County households make $100,000 or more, and 27% make less than $35,000. Census counts 15.8% of Wapello County residents in poverty, against 11.1% across Iowa. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.443 (0 is perfect equality). If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Wapello County median.
Work, industries and travel time in Wapello County
Manufacturing employs 26% of working residents, the largest share; education and health care is next with 22%. The sharpest difference from the state is in manufacturing, at 26% locally and 15% for Iowa. The survey's unemployment rate for Wapello County averages 4.3% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 3.6%). 10% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 5% work from home. Only 6.6% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Wapello County | Gap to Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 25.7% | +11.0 pts |
| Education and health care | 22.3% | -1.9 pts |
| Retail trade | 14.2% | +2.7 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 6.2% | -0.7 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 6.1% | +1.0 pts |
| Construction | 5.7% | -1.2 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Housing costs in Wapello County
A typical Wapello County rental runs $920 a month including utilities, which is 5% below Iowa. By the Census definition, 48% of Wapello County renters are cost-burdened. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $125,100, about 1.9 times the median household income. 68% of Wapello County households own their home and 32% rent. Half the housing stock was built before 1958.
| Cost | Wapello County | Iowa figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $920/mo | $972/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $125,100 | $208,000 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 68% | 72% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 48% | 44% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 18% | 20% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 4.2% | 3.2% | n/a |
Towns and communities in Wapello County
6 Census places fall mainly inside Wapello County; the 6 biggest are below. They account for 27,250 residents, leaving about 23% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. No Wapello County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 6.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ottumwa | city | 25,430 | $61,103 | $921 | 1 mi |
| Eldon | city | 726 | $47,917 | $692 | 13 mi |
| Agency | city | 435 | $67,813 | n/a | 6 mi |
| Blakesburg | city | 310 | $51,000 | $626 | 13 mi |
| Kirkville | city | 266 | $58,750 | n/a | 9 mi |
| Chillicothe | city | 83 | $75,750 | n/a | 7 mi |
Wapello County and the counties next door
Distances run center to center, from Davis County at 20 miles out to Van Buren County at 31. 3 of the six report a higher median household income than Wapello County; Davis County is highest at $77,194 and Van Buren County lowest at $61,161.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wapello County | - | $64,766 | $920/mo | 68% |
| Davis County, IA | 20 mi | $77,194 | $868/mo | 83% |
| Jefferson County, IA | 23 mi | $61,620 | $883/mo | 68% |
| Mahaska County, IA | 24 mi | $70,940 | $793/mo | 68% |
| Monroe County, IA | 24 mi | $70,996 | $798/mo | 81% |
| Keokuk County, IA | 24 mi | $62,329 | $828/mo | 81% |
| Van Buren County, IA | 31 mi | $61,161 | $622/mo | 82% |
Wapello County households compared
20% of Wapello County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 7% go without health insurance.
| People and households | Wapello County | Iowa | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.2 | 38.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 19.6% | 31.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 11.4% | 6.7% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 7.3% | 5.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.6% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 5.5% | 11.3% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 15.8% | 11.1% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.3% | 3.6% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 50.5% |
| 15 to 29 min | 28.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 11.5% |
| 45 to 59 min | 4.8% |
| 60+ min | 5.3% |
Borrowing situations common in Wapello County
What the Wapello County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Renters under pressure. When 48% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
- Getting ready. Gather pay stubs or benefit letters before you apply (checklist).
- Consolidating cards in Wapello County. Compare the total repaid, not the monthly figure (how).
A Wapello County household budget, worked through
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Wapello County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Monthly gross at the median, Wapello County: $5,397
- Housing at the median rent of $920 uses 17%
- With a 35% ceiling, about $969 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
- At 45%, room after rent is $1,509 a month
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Who licenses lenders for Wapello County residents
Consumer lenders serving Wapello County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Iowa that is the Iowa Division of Banking. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. More on Iowa: Iowa personal loans.
Four steps for Wapello County borrowers
Before you apply, wherever you live in Wapello County:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Iowa guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Wapello County a high-income county?
Its $64,766 median ranks 79th of 99 Iowa counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
Is Wapello County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $920 against $972 statewide, and 48% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Which towns does the Wapello County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 6 Census places: Ottumwa, Eldon, Agency, Blakesburg, Kirkville.
Will a Wapello 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 Wapello County?
Start with the Iowa Division of Banking, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.