1st Advantage MortgageWinnebago County households have a median income of $67,642 and median rent of $717 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). 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
- A quick profile of Winnebago County
- Income in Winnebago County compared with Iowa
- Employment and commuting in Winnebago County
- Winnebago County housing compared with Iowa
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Winnebago County
- A Winnebago County household budget, worked through
- Reading the Winnebago County data as a borrower
- Who lives in Winnebago County, in numbers
- Four steps for Winnebago County borrowers
- Lender oversight for Winnebago County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Winnebago County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Winnebago County's population at 10,583; only 69 of Iowa's 99 county-level areas are larger. It covers 400 square miles of land, or about 26 people per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Forest City is the biggest of its 7 Census places, at roughly 4,290 people (41% of the county total).
Income in Winnebago County compared with Iowa
Winnebago County households have a median income of $67,642 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 67th of 99 in Iowa.
| Band | Winnebago County | Compared with Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 26.8% | +5.7 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 43.3% | +0.4 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 24.7% | -2.8 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.2% | -3.3 pts |
Some 27% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 30% have six-figure incomes. 11.2% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 11.1%). For a borrower in Winnebago County, the county median is only context: a lender looks at the income you can document, so pay stubs, benefit letters or tax returns matter more than any average.
Employment and commuting in Winnebago County
The biggest employer of Winnebago County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 26% of workers, followed by manufacturing (18%). The sharpest difference from the state is in manufacturing, at 18% locally and 15% for Iowa. Averaged over the five survey years, 3.0% of the labor force was out of work and looking. About 78% drive to work alone and 4% have trips of 45 minutes or more. 5.8% of households have no vehicle.
| Sector | Winnebago County | Compared with Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 26.4% | +2.2 pts |
| Manufacturing | 18.2% | +3.5 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.1% | +0.5 pts |
| Construction | 8.1% | +1.1 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.5% | +0.6 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 5.0% | -0.1 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Winnebago County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Winnebago County housing compared with Iowa
A typical Winnebago County rental runs $717 a month including utilities, which is 26% below Iowa. 36% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 17% spend half or more. With a median value of $135,000, a typical Winnebago County house costs 2.0 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 71%.
| Cost | Winnebago County | Iowa figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $717/mo | $972/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $135,000 | $208,000 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 71% | 72% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 36% | 44% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 12% | 20% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 2.1% | 3.2% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 9% | 8% | n/a |
Neighboring counties at a glance
Distances run center to center, from Hancock County at 21 miles out to Cerro Gordo County at 32. 5 of the six report a higher median household income than Winnebago County; Worth County is highest at $78,008 and Faribault County lowest at $66,815. Some neighbors are in Minnesota. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Winnebago County resident follows Iowa rules.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winnebago County | - | $67,642 | $717/mo | 71% |
| Hancock County, IA | 21 mi | $70,601 | $736/mo | 82% |
| Faribault County, MN | 23 mi | $66,815 | $799/mo | 79% |
| Worth County, IA | 25 mi | $78,008 | $758/mo | 83% |
| Kossuth County, IA | 26 mi | $67,697 | $859/mo | 79% |
| Freeborn County, MN | 28 mi | $71,023 | $849/mo | 80% |
| Cerro Gordo County, IA | 32 mi | $68,189 | $850/mo | 70% |
Cities, towns and CDPs in Winnebago County
Here are the 7 most populous of the county's 7 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 79% of Winnebago County residents live in one of the 7. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $52,917 in Buffalo Center to $69,205 in Forest City. No Winnebago County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 7.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forest City | city | 4,290 | $69,205 | $720 | 10 mi |
| Lake Mills | city | 2,088 | $61,875 | $624 | 11 mi |
| Buffalo Center | city | 911 | $52,917 | $640 | 10 mi |
| Thompson | city | 459 | $61,250 | $733 | 2 mi |
| Leland | city | 306 | $52,500 | $789 | 6 mi |
| Rake | city | 190 | $42,386 | $650 | 11 mi |
| Scarville | city | 66 | n/a | n/a | 9 mi |
A Winnebago County household budget, worked through
Winnebago County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- Median income divided by twelve: $5,637 before taxes
- Housing at the median rent of $717 uses 13%
- Under a 40% cap, $2,255 total minus rent leaves $1,538
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Reading the Winnebago County data as a borrower
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Winnebago County borrowers.
- Consolidating cards in Winnebago County. Compare the total repaid, not the monthly figure (how).
- Credit reports. Pull free reports at AnnualCreditReport.com and dispute errors before applying.
- Paperwork. ID, proof of income and a bank account are the basics (requirements).
Who lives in Winnebago County, in numbers
26% of Winnebago County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 6% go without health insurance.
| People and households | Winnebago County | Iowa | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.7 | 38.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 26.1% | 31.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 5.3% | 6.7% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.6% | 5.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.8% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 6.5% | 11.3% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 11.2% | 11.1% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.0% | 3.6% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Winnebago County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 61.5% |
| 15 to 29 min | 21.4% |
| 30 to 44 min | 12.9% |
| 45 to 59 min | 2.8% |
| 60+ min | 1.4% |
Four steps for Winnebago County borrowers
A short checklist for Winnebago County borrowers:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Winnebago County.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Iowa borrowers.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
Lender oversight for Winnebago County
Consumer lenders serving Winnebago 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. Statewide data and rules: Iowa guide.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Iowa guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Winnebago County a high-income county?
Its $67,642 median ranks 67th of 99 Iowa counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
Is Winnebago County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $717 against $972 statewide, and 36% of renter households are cost-burdened.
I own my home in Winnebago County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 71% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
Does this page cover Forest City?
Yes, along with the other 6 Census places in Winnebago County, such as Lake Mills, Buffalo Center, Thompson.
Are Winnebago County applicants treated differently?
No. Everyone answers the same questions and is screened on the same objective points; lending partners set their own criteria under fair-lending laws.