1st Advantage MortgageIn Webster County, Iowa, the typical household earns $68,975 a year and the typical rent is $785. 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
- Webster County, IA: the basics
- Webster County housing compared with Iowa
- Paychecks and income spread in Webster County
- Work, industries and travel time in Webster County
- The counties around Webster County
- Places inside Webster County
- Who lives in Webster County, in numbers
- What the numbers mean for Webster County borrowers
- What a median Webster County budget can carry
- Checklist for Webster County applicants
- Who licenses lenders for Webster County residents
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Webster County, IA: the basics
Webster County is home to about 36,886 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 18th most populous of 99 county-level areas in Iowa. Land area is 716 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 52 per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Webster County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Of the 14 Census places inside Webster County, Fort Dodge leads by population with about 24,827; 13 of the 14 are incorporated.
Webster County housing compared with Iowa
A typical Webster County rental runs $785 a month including utilities, which is 19% below Iowa. By the Census definition, 40% of Webster County renters are cost-burdened. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $153,800, about 2.2 times the median household income. Owners occupy 70% of homes. The median home was built in 1957, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Measure | Webster County | Iowa | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $785/mo | $972/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $153,800 | $208,000 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 70% | 72% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 40% | 44% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 20% | 20% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 10% | 8% | n/a |
Paychecks and income spread in Webster County
Webster County households have a median income of $68,975 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 59th of 99 in Iowa.
| Yearly household income | Webster County | Gap to Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 27.1% | +6.0 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 43.7% | +0.9 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 24.5% | -3.0 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.7% | -3.9 pts |
Some 27% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 29% have six-figure incomes. 12.9% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 11.1%). The Gini index of income inequality is 0.443 (0 is perfect equality). None of these numbers decides a Webster County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Work, industries and travel time in Webster County
Education and health care employs 25% of working residents, the largest share; manufacturing is next with 16%. Averaged over the five survey years, 4.8% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Long commutes are the exception here: 10% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Only 6.7% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Industry | Share of Webster County workers | vs Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 25.0% | +0.8 pts |
| Manufacturing | 16.4% | +1.7 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.2% | -0.3 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.8% | +1.9 pts |
| Construction | 7.6% | +0.6 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 5.6% | +1.8 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
The counties around Webster County
Distances run center to center, from Hamilton County at 24 miles out to Wright County at 31. Income ranges from $63,409 in Greene County to $83,531 in Boone County; 3 of these neighbors top Webster County's median.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Webster County | - | $68,975 | $785/mo | 70% |
| Hamilton County, IA | 24 mi | $72,432 | $877/mo | 73% |
| Calhoun County, IA | 24 mi | $64,964 | $723/mo | 81% |
| Humboldt County, IA | 24 mi | $71,946 | $744/mo | 77% |
| Greene County, IA | 29 mi | $63,409 | $781/mo | 76% |
| Boone County, IA | 30 mi | $83,531 | $845/mo | 80% |
| Wright County, IA | 31 mi | $67,190 | $790/mo | 77% |
Places inside Webster County
Here are the 14 most populous of the county's 14 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 81% of Webster County residents live in one of the 14. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $57,500 in Dayton to $80,417 in Gowrie. Rent is cheapest in Dayton ($523) and steepest in Fort Dodge ($785). This guide covers each of the 14 places and the rural areas around them.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Dodge | city | 24,827 | $60,649 | $785 | 5 mi |
| Gowrie | city | 932 | $80,417 | $750 | 12 mi |
| Dayton | city | 689 | $57,500 | $523 | 13 mi |
| Coalville | CDP | 649 | $78,000 | n/a | 3 mi |
| Badger | city | 433 | $72,750 | $750 | 13 mi |
| Callender | city | 413 | $75,000 | $444 | 8 mi |
| Otho | city | 380 | $43,482 | $665 | 2 mi |
| Duncombe | city | 376 | $52,500 | $656 | 9 mi |
| Lehigh | city | 340 | $54,500 | $669 | 8 mi |
| Barnum | city | 250 | $86,615 | n/a | 11 mi |
| Harcourt | city | 249 | $72,708 | $550 | 12 mi |
| Moorland | city | 166 | $80,250 | n/a | 6 mi |
| Vincent | city | 161 | $87,500 | $630 | 14 mi |
| Clare | city | 128 | $80,417 | $656 | 14 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
Who lives in Webster County, in numbers
22% of Webster County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 6% go without health insurance.
| Indicator | Webster County | All of Iowa | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.7 | 38.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 22.0% | 31.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 7.0% | 6.7% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 6.3% | 5.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.7% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 4.6% | 11.3% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 12.9% | 11.1% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.8% | 3.6% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 50.2% |
| 15 to 29 min | 31.5% |
| 30 to 44 min | 8.3% |
| 45 to 59 min | 3.7% |
| 60+ min | 6.4% |
What the numbers mean for Webster County borrowers
Based on the Webster County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Getting ready. Gather pay stubs or benefit letters before you apply (checklist).
- Debt consolidation. One fixed payment can save money only if the written APR and fees beat what you pay now (guide).
- Credit reports. Pull free reports at AnnualCreditReport.com and dispute errors before applying.
What a median Webster County budget can carry
Webster County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- $5,748 a month: gross income for a household at the Webster County median
- Rent at the median, $785, takes 14% of that
- $1,284: what a 36% 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.
Checklist for Webster County applicants
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Iowa borrowers.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
Who licenses lenders for Webster County residents
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Webster County, check the Iowa Division of Banking. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. Statewide data and rules: Iowa guide.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Iowa guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is Webster County a high-income county?
Its $68,975 median ranks 59th of 99 Iowa counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How does Webster County rent compare with Iowa?
$785 locally versus $972 for the state, 19% below.
What are the biggest places in Webster County?
By population: Fort Dodge, Gowrie, Dayton, Coalville, Badger. The county has 14 Census places in all.
Can Webster County residents use the questionnaire?
Yes. It asks the same questions in every Iowa county, lists every requirement up front and does not affect your credit score.
Where can someone in Webster County check a lender's license?
With the Iowa Division of Banking. If a lender is unlicensed or asks for a fee before funding, walk away.