1st Advantage MortgageWright County households have a median income of $67,190 and median rent of $790 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
- Wright County, IA: the basics
- How much Wright County households make
- Housing costs in Wright County
- How Wright County residents earn a living
- Regional comparison for Wright County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Wright County
- Who lives in Wright County, in numbers
- Local borrowing considerations for Wright County
- Debt-to-income at Wright County's medians
- Checklist for Wright County applicants
- Checking a lender's license in Iowa
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Wright County, IA: the basics
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Wright County's population at 12,791; only 58 of Iowa's 99 county-level areas are larger. It covers 580 square miles of land, or about 22 people per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. The Census Bureau counts 7 places in the county (7 incorporated, 0 census-designated); the largest is Eagle Grove, with about 3,593 residents, or 28% of the county.
How much Wright County households make
The median household income in Wright County is $67,190; statewide it is $75,059, so Wright County runs 10% below Iowa as a whole. That places it 72nd among Iowa's 99 county-level areas.
| Income band | Share in Wright County | Difference from Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 22.5% | +1.4 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 47.5% | +4.6 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 23.8% | -3.7 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 6.3% | -2.3 pts |
Some 23% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 30% have six-figure incomes. Census counts 16.8% of Wright County residents in poverty, against 11.1% across Iowa. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
Housing costs in Wright County
Renters in Wright County pay a median of $790 a month, 19% below the Iowa figure of $972. 41% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 18% spend half or more. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $119,600, about 1.8 times the median household income. The ownership rate is 77%. Median construction year: 1960.
| Wright County | Iowa | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $790/mo | $972/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $119,600 | $208,000 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 77% | 72% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 41% | 44% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 19% | 20% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 15% | 8% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Wright 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 Wright County residents earn a living
The biggest employer of Wright County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 21% of workers, followed by manufacturing (18%). The sharpest difference from the state is in agriculture, forestry and mining, at 11% locally and 4% for Iowa. Averaged over the five survey years, 1.8% of the labor force was out of work and looking. About 79% drive to work alone and 11% have trips of 45 minutes or more.
| Where residents work | Wright County | Difference from Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 21.5% | -2.7 pts |
| Manufacturing | 17.7% | +3.0 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 11.2% | +7.5 pts |
| Construction | 9.8% | +2.8 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.1% | -2.4 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 6.8% | -0.8 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Regional comparison for Wright County
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Wright County's, from 24 to 34 miles away. Hamilton County leads the group on income ($72,432), Franklin County trails ($59,894), and Wright County out-earns 1 of the six.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wright County | - | $67,190 | $790/mo | 77% |
| Franklin County, IA | 24 mi | $59,894 | $696/mo | 72% |
| Hancock County, IA | 24 mi | $70,601 | $736/mo | 82% |
| Hamilton County, IA | 24 mi | $72,432 | $877/mo | 73% |
| Humboldt County, IA | 24 mi | $71,946 | $744/mo | 77% |
| Webster County, IA | 31 mi | $68,975 | $785/mo | 70% |
| Cerro Gordo County, IA | 34 mi | $68,189 | $850/mo | 70% |
Cities, towns and CDPs in Wright County
The table lists the 7 largest of 7 Census places in Wright County, by population. Together all 7 hold about 10,071 people, so roughly 21% of residents live outside any named place. Clarion has the highest median household income on the list ($64,625) and Goldfield the lowest ($53,092), counting places with at least 500 residents. Median rent ranges from $607 in Goldfield to $996 in Eagle Grove. No Wright County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 7.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eagle Grove | city | 3,593 | $63,125 | $996 | 10 mi |
| Clarion | city | 2,770 | $64,625 | $763 | 0 mi |
| Belmond | city | 2,694 | $56,528 | $830 | 10 mi |
| Goldfield | city | 613 | $53,092 | $607 | 9 mi |
| Rowan | city | 186 | $56,875 | n/a | 9 mi |
| Woolstock | city | 181 | $85,000 | $625 | 13 mi |
| Galt | city | 34 | n/a | n/a | 7 mi |
Who lives in Wright County, in numbers
Degree holders: 25% of adults over 25. About 6% go without health insurance.
| Indicator | Wright County | All of Iowa | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.4 | 38.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 24.9% | 31.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 8.3% | 6.7% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.8% | 5.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.4% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 7.9% | 11.3% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 16.8% | 11.1% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 1.8% | 3.6% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 49.2% |
| 15 to 29 min | 29.6% |
| 30 to 44 min | 10.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 3.5% |
| 60+ min | 7.6% |
Local borrowing considerations for Wright County
A few patterns in the Wright County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Fraud. Gift cards, wire transfers or fees to unlock a loan mean walk away (report it).
- Consolidating cards in Wright County. Compare the total repaid, not the monthly figure (how).
- Check your file. An error fixed before you apply can change the offers a Wright County borrower sees (free reports).
Debt-to-income at Wright County's medians
Here is the Wright County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- $67,190 a year is $5,599 of gross monthly income
- Housing at the median rent of $790 uses 14%
- $1,226: what a 36% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Wright County's.
Checklist for Wright County applicants
Quick steps for Wright County:
- Price the Wright County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Iowa.
- Keep a small cushion so one surprise bill does not mean another loan.
Checking a lender's license in Iowa
Wright County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Iowa Division of Banking. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. See the Iowa state guide for the statewide picture.
Related local guides
The Iowa guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Wright County?
$67,190 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $75,059 for Iowa. It ranks 72nd of 99 in the state.
What do renters pay in Wright County?
$790 a month at the median, about 14% of median household income.
I live in a small Wright County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Eagle Grove, Clarion, Belmond, Goldfield, Rowan and 2 more.
Is the fit check different in Wright County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Who regulates personal lenders for Wright County residents?
The Iowa Division of Banking licenses consumer lenders in Iowa; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.