Iowa · GEOID 19013

Black Hawk County

2024 ACS 5-year estimates · population 131,049 · 58,991 housing units

Median household income

$66,417

State $75,689

Median home value

$188,900

State $208,740

Median gross rent

$989

State $976

Homeownership rate

66.2%

State 71.7%

Renter cost-burden rate

48.9%

≥30% of income

Owner cost-burden rate

17.0%

≥30% of income

Homeowner vacancy

1.3%

Of owner-occupied + for-sale units

Rental vacancy

6.5%

Of renter-occupied + for-rent units

Overall vacancy

7.5%

All housing units

Price-to-income ratio

2.84

Affordable: 2.0–3.0

Section 1

Community Profile

Population, demographics, household composition, and income.

Community Data Summary

	Black Hawk County	Iowa
Population	131,049	3,210,507
Population density (per sq. mi.)	231.63	—
Median household income	$66,417	$75,689
HUD Area Median Income (4-person, 100%)	$91,000	—
Households	54,563	—
Average household size	2.31 people	—
Owner-occupied	66.2%	71.7%
Renter-occupied	33.8%	28.3%
Race	79.5% White · 9.3% Black	0.0% White · 0.0% Black

Source: ACS 5-year 2024 (Tables DP05, S1101, DP04, S1901) and Census Gazetteer (land area); HUD FY2026 Income Limits.

Racial composition

Black Hawk County compared with Iowa.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP05.

Educational attainment (population 25+)

30.3% hold a bachelor's degree or higher (state: 31.4%).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1501.

Median Household Income by Tenure

Owner-occupied vs. renter-occupied household income, county and state.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25119.

Median Household Income by Age of Householder

Median household income by age group of householder.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B19049.

Median Household Income by Number of Earners

Median household income for families with each earner count.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1903.

Household Size

Distribution of households by number of people.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2501.

Income by Number of Earners

Earners	Share	Median income	Attainable monthly housing cost	Attainable home
0 earners	18.0%	$62,048	$1,551	$199,944
1 earner	28.5%	$58,998	$1,475	$188,591
2 earners	44.3%	$106,395	$2,660	$365,019
3+ earners	9.2%	$152,541	$3,814	$536,790

Attainable monthly housing cost = 30% of gross income ÷ 12. Attainable home price assumes 30% housing budget, 30-yr mortgage at 7%, 5% down.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1903; affordability formula derived.

Households

54,563

Average size: 2.31 people

Households with children

12,911

23.7% of households

Per-capita income

$37,541

Poverty rate: 16.3%

Section 2

Residential Market Analysis

Housing stock characteristics — tenure, type, age, size, vacancy, rents.

Tenure

66.2% owner-occupied vs. state average 71.7%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP04.

Structure type

Single-family share 74.3% · Missing middle (2–19 units) 16.1%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25024.

Housing stock by decade

69.5% built before 1980 · Median structure age 1,966.00 yrs.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2504.

Housing size mismatch

Compares the share of housing units by bedroom count against the share of households by size — a common diagnostic of housing supply/demand alignment.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Tables B25041 (bedrooms) and S2501 (household size).

Home value distribution

Owner-occupied homes by value bracket. Median: $188,900.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP04.

Monthly Housing Costs

Distribution of monthly housing costs across all occupied units.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25104.

Number of Bedrooms

Housing units by number of bedrooms.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25041.

Median rent by bedroom

Overall median gross rent: $989.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25031.

Renters by age

Number of renter householders by age bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2502.

Owners by age

Number of owner householders by age bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2502.

Vacancy composition

All 4,428 vacant units split into Census's seven categories. Frictional vacancy (units actively on the market) reflects healthy churn. Structural vacancy (seasonal, migrant, other) sits outside the market for year-round residents — high values change how the headline vacancy rate should be read.

Vacant units by type

For sale 11.1% · For rent 29.2% · Seasonal 10.8% · Other 40.9%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25004.

Frictional vs structural

48.4% of vacancy is frictional (for sale + for rent + rented/sold not yet occupied); 51.6% is structural (seasonal + migrant + other).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25004.

Seasonal / recreational share of all housing

0.8%

478 units of 58,991 total

Housing units held for seasonal or recreational use.

"Other vacant" share of all housing

3.1%

1,809 units of 58,991 total

Census "Other vacant" — units off the market for reasons other than seasonal, migrant, sale, or rental.

Section 3

Workforce Housing Needs Assessment

Affordability, cost burden, and the housing options for households in the workforce income range.

Workforce range — ACS median household income

80% MHI$53,134

100% MHI$66,417

120% MHI$79,700

County-wide median from ACS 5-year estimates. A household at 100% MHI in Black Hawk County should be able to afford a home up to roughly — (30% housing budget, default mortgage terms).

Workforce range — HUD Area Median Income

	1-person	2-person	4-person
80% AMI	$52,750	$60,250	$75,300
100% AMI	$63,700	$72,800	$91,000
120% AMI	$76,450	$87,350	$109,200

HUD FMR Area: Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA HUD Metro FMR Area. 80% AMI uses HUD's published Section 8 Low Income Limits; 100% is HUD MFI; 120% is the standard workforce convention.

Affordability calculator

Follows the standard 30%-of-gross-income affordability rule.

Income basis Household income Interest rate % Down payment % Taxes & insurance / yr

Affordable monthly—

Affordable home price—

Renter cost burden

48.9% of renter households spend ≥30% of income on rent (26.0% spend ≥50%).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25070.

Owner cost burden by income

17.0% of homeowners spend ≥30% of income on housing. Bars show counts of cost-burdened owners by income bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25106.

Household income — owners vs renters

Distribution of household income for owner-occupied (navy) and renter-occupied (gold) households.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25118.

Section 4

Industry & Workforce Wages

Employment, average wages, and the housing each industry's typical earner can afford in Black Hawk County.

Covered employment

61,527

Across 16 sectors

Establishments

3,677

QCEW 2024

Avg annual pay (workforce)

$59,024

Employment-weighted across sectors

Top 10 sectors by employment

Annual average employment by NAICS 2-digit sector. Counties with fewer than five covered establishments in a sector may show suppressed totals.

Source: BLS QCEW Annual Averages, 2024.

Attainable housing by industry

Industry	Employment	Avg annual wage	Affordable home price	vs. median value	Affordable monthly rent
NAICS 31-33 Manufacturing NAICS 31-33	13,298	$87,137	$293,334	+$104,434	$2,178
NAICS 62 Health care and social assistance NAICS 62	10,893	$59,265	$189,585	+$685	$1,482
NAICS 44-45 Retail trade NAICS 44-45	8,506	$35,092	$99,605	−$89,295	$877
NAICS 72 Accommodation and food services NAICS 72	6,080	$20,629	$45,769	−$143,131	$516
NAICS 48-49 Transportation and warehousing NAICS 48-49	3,975	$57,103	$181,537	−$7,363	$1,428
NAICS 56 Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services NAICS 56	2,920	$43,899	$132,387	−$56,513	$1,097
NAICS 81 Other services (except public administration) NAICS 81	2,761	$49,201	$152,123	−$36,777	$1,230
NAICS 23 Construction NAICS 23	2,578	$67,790	$221,318	+$32,418	$1,695
NAICS 54 Professional, scientific, and technical services NAICS 54	2,362	$77,228	$256,449	+$67,549	$1,931
NAICS 92 Public administration NAICS 92	2,326	$62,442	$201,411	+$12,511	$1,561
NAICS 52 Finance and insurance NAICS 52	2,260	$86,878	$292,370	+$103,470	$2,172
NAICS 71 Arts, entertainment, and recreation NAICS 71	852	$20,678	$45,951	−$142,949	$517
NAICS 55 Management of companies and enterprises NAICS 55	814	$103,903	$355,743	+$166,843	$2,598
NAICS 61 Educational services NAICS 61	720	$35,089	$99,594	−$89,306	$877
NAICS 53 Real estate and rental and leasing NAICS 53	651	$45,836	$139,598	−$49,302	$1,146
NAICS 51 Information NAICS 51	531	$105,987	$363,500	+$174,600	$2,650

Subsector	Employment	Avg annual wage	Affordable home price	vs. median value	Affordable monthly rent
NAICS 333 Machinery manufacturing NAICS 333	5,884	$115,368	$398,419	+$209,519	$2,884
NAICS 722 Food services and drinking places NAICS 722	5,290	$19,676	$42,221	−$146,679	$492
NAICS 621 Ambulatory health care services NAICS 621	3,468	$84,972	$285,275	+$96,375	$2,124
NAICS 311 Food manufacturing NAICS 311	3,405	$65,868	$214,164	+$25,264	$1,647
NAICS 623 Nursing and residential care facilities NAICS 623	2,608	$38,232	$111,293	−$77,607	$956
NAICS 561 Administrative and support services NAICS 561	2,591	$41,565	$123,700	−$65,200	$1,039
NAICS 541 Professional, scientific, and technical services NAICS 541	2,362	$77,228	$256,449	+$67,549	$1,931
NAICS 493 Warehousing and storage NAICS 493	2,265	$54,455	$171,680	−$17,220	$1,361
NAICS 455 General merchandise retailers NAICS 455	1,937	$26,612	$68,039	−$120,861	$665
NAICS 238 Specialty trade contractors NAICS 238	1,677	$68,403	$223,600	+$34,700	$1,710
NAICS 921 Executive, legislative, and other general government support NAICS 921	1,659	$58,774	$187,757	−$1,143	$1,469
NAICS 812 Personal and laundry services NAICS 812	1,595	$53,549	$168,308	−$20,592	$1,339
NAICS 522 Credit intermediation and related activities NAICS 522	1,590	$83,833	$281,035	+$92,135	$2,096
NAICS 423 Merchant wholesalers, durable goods NAICS 423	1,545	$81,616	$272,783	+$83,883	$2,040
NAICS 445 Food and beverage retailers NAICS 445	1,398	$26,257	$66,718	−$122,182	$656
NAICS 441 Motor vehicle and parts dealers NAICS 441	1,252	$63,432	$205,096	+$16,196	$1,586
NAICS 337 Furniture and related product manufacturing NAICS 337	1,150	$54,772	$172,860	−$16,040	$1,369
NAICS 332 Fabricated metal product manufacturing NAICS 332	1,029	$61,098	$196,408	+$7,508	$1,527
NAICS 457 Gasoline stations and fuel dealers NAICS 457	1,024	$26,804	$68,754	−$120,146	$670
NAICS 424 Merchant wholesalers, nondurable goods NAICS 424	993	$90,961	$307,568	+$118,668	$2,274
NAICS 459 Sporting goods, hobby, musical instrument, book, and miscellaneous retailers NAICS 459	855	$25,854	$65,218	−$123,682	$646
NAICS 551 Management of companies and enterprises NAICS 551	814	$103,903	$355,743	+$166,843	$2,598
NAICS 484 Truck transportation NAICS 484	810	$61,484	$197,845	+$8,945	$1,537
NAICS 444 Building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers NAICS 444	793	$37,449	$108,378	−$80,522	$936
NAICS 721 Accommodation NAICS 721	790	$27,004	$69,499	−$119,401	$675
NAICS 611 Educational services NAICS 611	720	$35,089	$99,594	−$89,306	$877
NAICS 713 Amusement, gambling, and recreation industries NAICS 713	696	$19,836	$42,817	−$146,083	$496
NAICS 456 Health and personal care retailers NAICS 456	674	$45,056	$136,694	−$52,206	$1,126
NAICS 811 Repair and maintenance NAICS 811	648	$55,705	$176,333	−$12,567	$1,393
NAICS 236 Construction of buildings NAICS 236	541	$67,152	$218,943	+$30,043	$1,679
NAICS 813 Religious, grantmaking, civic, professional, and similar organizations NAICS 813	497	$27,993	$73,180	−$115,720	$700
NAICS 531 Real estate NAICS 531	458	$44,793	$135,715	−$53,185	$1,120
NAICS 524 Insurance carriers and related activities NAICS 524	442	$88,943	$300,057	+$111,157	$2,224
NAICS 492 Couriers and messengers NAICS 492	385	$50,221	$155,920	−$32,980	$1,256
NAICS 323 Printing and related support activities NAICS 323	379	$56,073	$177,703	−$11,197	$1,402
NAICS 237 Heavy and civil engineering construction NAICS 237	360	$65,893	$214,257	+$25,357	$1,647
NAICS 449 Furniture, home furnishings, electronics, and appliance retailers NAICS 449	331	$47,053	$144,128	−$44,772	$1,176
NAICS 562 Waste management and remediation services NAICS 562	329	$62,284	$200,823	+$11,923	$1,557
NAICS 491 Postal service NAICS 491	304	$72,796	$239,952	+$51,052	$1,820
NAICS 458 Clothing, clothing accessories, shoe, and jewelry retailers NAICS 458	242	$23,246	$55,510	−$133,390	$581
NAICS 922 Justice, public order, and safety activities NAICS 922	234	$75,663	$250,624	+$61,724	$1,892
NAICS 336 Transportation equipment manufacturing NAICS 336	218	$63,530	$205,461	+$16,561	$1,588
NAICS 513 Publishing industries NAICS 513	218	$173,476	$614,717	+$425,817	$4,337
NAICS 488 Support activities for transportation NAICS 488	128	$57,199	$181,895	−$7,005	$1,430
NAICS 926 Administration of economic programs NAICS 926	125	$80,371	$268,149	+$79,249	$2,009
NAICS 339 Miscellaneous manufacturing NAICS 339	123	$59,790	$191,539	+$2,639	$1,495
NAICS 516 Broadcasting and content providers NAICS 516	123	$56,817	$180,473	−$8,427	$1,420
NAICS 331 Primary metal manufacturing NAICS 331	116	$66,372	$216,040	+$27,140	$1,659
NAICS 711 Performing arts, spectator sports, and related industries NAICS 711	110	$19,561	$41,793	−$147,107	$489
NAICS 327 Nonmetallic mineral product manufacturing NAICS 327	106	$62,201	$200,514	+$11,614	$1,555
NAICS 312 Beverage and tobacco product manufacturing NAICS 312	100	$38,517	$112,354	−$76,546	$963
NAICS 111 Crop production NAICS 111	99	$36,657	$105,430	−$83,470	$916
NAICS 321 Wood product manufacturing NAICS 321	72	$49,434	$152,991	−$35,909	$1,236
NAICS 517 Telecommunications NAICS 517	72	$68,207	$222,870	+$33,970	$1,705
NAICS 112 Animal production and aquaculture NAICS 112	69	$34,438	$97,170	−$91,730	$861
NAICS 928 National security and international affairs NAICS 928	66	$70,416	$231,093	+$42,193	$1,760
NAICS 712 Museums, historical sites, and similar institutions NAICS 712	46	$36,082	$103,290	−$85,610	$902
NAICS 814 Private households NAICS 814	21	$20,185	$44,116	−$144,784	$505
NAICS 923 Administration of human resource programs NAICS 923	19	$75,831	$251,249	+$62,349	$1,896
NAICS 924 Administration of environmental quality programs NAICS 924	11	$74,590	$246,630	+$57,730	$1,865

Affordable home price assumes the industry's average earner uses 30% of gross income for housing, with a 30-year mortgage at 7%, 5% down, $2,500/yr taxes & insurance, and 0.5% PMI. Adjust the Section 3 calculator for other terms. Affordable rent is 30% of monthly gross pay.

Source: BLS QCEW Annual Averages, 2024; ACS 5-year 2024 (median home value).

Section 5

Wages by Occupation

Selected essential-worker occupations for the MSA or nonmetropolitan area containing this county — jobs, the 10-year change, wages, and the housing each typical earner can afford. Both jobs counts and wages are reported at the MSA / nonmetropolitan-area level (BLS does not publish OEWS at the county level), so every county inside the same area shows the same numbers. For county-accurate employment totals, see Section 4 above.

Occupational wages and affordable housing

Occupation	2025 jobs	2015–2025 change	% change	Hourly wage	Annual wage	Affordable home price	Affordable monthly rent
Waiters and Waitresses SOC 35-3031	1,280	(210)	(14%)	$12.64	$26,300	$66,878	$658
Childcare Workers SOC 39-9011	380	(110)	(22%)	$13.52	$28,130	$73,690	$703
Fast Food and Counter Workers SOC 35-3023 · prior-year code differs	2,500	(80)	(3%)	$13.78	$28,660	$75,663	$717
Cashiers SOC 41-2011	2,340	40	2%	$14.72	$30,630	$82,996	$766
Retail Salespersons SOC 41-2031	2,460	(520)	(17%)	$16.56	$34,440	$97,178	$861
Janitors and Cleaners SOC 37-2011	1,440	(150)	(9%)	$17.16	$35,690	$101,831	$892
Tellers SOC 43-3071	320	(200)	(38%)	$19.21	$39,950	$117,688	$999
Home Health and Personal Care Aides SOC 31-1131 · prior-year code differs	1,440	(320)	(18%)	$19.55	$40,660	$120,331	$1,017
Office Clerks, General SOC 43-9061	1,220	(570)	(32%)	$21.66	$45,040	$136,635	$1,126
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General SOC 49-9071	870	30	4%	$25.22	$52,450	$164,217	$1,311
Construction Laborers SOC 47-2061	710	190	37%	$25.58	$53,210	$167,046	$1,330
Carpenters SOC 47-2031	260	(60)	(19%)	$27.30	$56,780	$180,335	$1,420
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers SOC 53-3032	1,600	20	1%	$28.27	$58,800	$187,854	$1,470
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education SOC 25-2021	890	(10)	(1%)	—	$60,150	$192,879	$1,504
Paramedics SOC 29-2043 · prior-year code differs	40	(50)	(56%)	$28.96	$60,230	$193,177	$1,506
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters SOC 47-2152	220	30	16%	$31.22	$64,930	$210,672	$1,623
Electricians SOC 47-2111	360	(40)	(10%)	$31.42	$65,360	$212,273	$1,634
Firefighters SOC 33-2011	80	—	—	$31.87	$66,280	$215,697	$1,657
Registered Nurses SOC 29-1141	1,890	(200)	(10%)	$36.78	$76,500	$253,739	$1,913
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers SOC 33-3051	310	40	15%	$37.45	$77,900	$258,951	$1,948

Affordable home price uses the same Section 3 formula (30% housing budget, 30-year mortgage at 7%, 5% down, $2,500/yr T&I, 0.5% PMI). Affordable rent is 30% of monthly wages. Negative job-change values are shown in red parentheses. A "prior-year code differs" note flags occupations whose SOC code changed between the two vintages (2010 SOC → 2018 SOC) — the change estimate is best-effort.

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 (10-year change vs. May 2015). Jobs counts and wages reflect the MSA or nonmetropolitan area containing this county, not the county alone — OEWS is not published at the county level.

Methodology & sources

All figures derive from the 2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates. State and national comparisons are population-weighted aggregates of county-level estimates (an approximation; ACS publishes its own state and national medians which can differ slightly).

The affordability calculator uses a 30% housing-budget rule with a 30-year mortgage. Defaults are 7% interest, 5% down, $2,500/year taxes and insurance, and 0.5% PMI — adjustable above.

Variables: 19013 · pulled from Full Housing Data Table.xlsx.