Iowa · GEOID 19061

Dubuque County

2024 ACS 5-year estimates · population 99,030 · 43,288 housing units

Median household income

$77,630

State $75,689

Median home value

$237,300

State $208,740

Median gross rent

$959

State $976

Homeownership rate

73.3%

State 71.7%

Renter cost-burden rate

45.8%

≥30% of income

Owner cost-burden rate

17.2%

≥30% of income

Homeowner vacancy

0.7%

Of owner-occupied + for-sale units

Rental vacancy

2.1%

Of renter-occupied + for-rent units

Overall vacancy

5.3%

All housing units

Price-to-income ratio

3.06

Affordable: 2.0–3.0

Section 1

Community Profile

Population, demographics, household composition, and income.

Community Data Summary

	Dubuque County	Iowa
Population	99,030	3,210,507
Population density (per sq. mi.)	162.80	—
Median household income	$77,630	$75,689
HUD Area Median Income (4-person, 100%)	$106,300	—
Households	40,989	—
Average household size	2.31 people	—
Owner-occupied	73.3%	71.7%
Renter-occupied	26.7%	28.3%
Race	88.9% White · 3.0% 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

Dubuque County compared with Iowa.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP05.

Educational attainment (population 25+)

33.4% 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	14.4%	$61,915	$1,548	$199,449
1 earner	25.9%	$68,678	$1,717	$224,623
2 earners	47.4%	$117,402	$2,935	$405,991
3+ earners	12.4%	$154,048	$3,851	$542,399

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

40,989

Average size: 2.31 people

Households with children

10,691

26.1% of households

Per-capita income

$41,404

Poverty rate: 9.3%

Section 2

Residential Market Analysis

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

Tenure

73.3% owner-occupied vs. state average 71.7%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP04.

Structure type

Single-family share 74.8% · Missing middle (2–19 units) 16.2%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25024.

Housing stock by decade

62.0% built before 1980 · Median structure age 1,970.00 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: $237,300.

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: $959.

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 2,299 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 9.4% · For rent 10.1% · Seasonal 14.0% · Other 54.4%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25004.

Frictional vs structural

31.6% of vacancy is frictional (for sale + for rent + rented/sold not yet occupied); 68.4% is structural (seasonal + migrant + other).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25004.

Seasonal / recreational share of all housing

0.7%

323 units of 43,288 total

Housing units held for seasonal or recreational use.

"Other vacant" share of all housing

2.9%

1,250 units of 43,288 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$62,104

100% MHI$77,630

120% MHI$93,156

County-wide median from ACS 5-year estimates. A household at 100% MHI in Dubuque 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	$59,550	$68,050	$85,050
100% AMI	$74,410	$85,040	$106,300
120% AMI	$89,300	$102,050	$127,550

HUD FMR Area: Dubuque, IA MSA. 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

45.8% of renter households spend ≥30% of income on rent (28.6% spend ≥50%).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25070.

Owner cost burden by income

17.2% 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 Dubuque County.

Covered employment

55,314

Across 18 sectors

Establishments

3,697

QCEW 2024

Avg annual pay (workforce)

$59,331

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	10,492	$77,757	$258,418	+$21,118	$1,944
NAICS 62 Health care and social assistance NAICS 62	8,652	$56,418	$178,987	−$58,313	$1,410
NAICS 44-45 Retail trade NAICS 44-45	6,447	$34,128	$96,016	−$141,284	$853
NAICS 72 Accommodation and food services NAICS 72	4,260	$20,392	$44,886	−$192,414	$510
NAICS 52 Finance and insurance NAICS 52	4,253	$86,540	$291,112	+$53,812	$2,164
NAICS 48-49 Transportation and warehousing NAICS 48-49	3,090	$56,414	$178,973	−$58,327	$1,410
NAICS 42 Wholesale trade NAICS 42	3,072	$72,214	$237,786	+$486	$1,805
NAICS 23 Construction NAICS 23	2,704	$73,676	$243,228	+$5,928	$1,842
NAICS 61 Educational services NAICS 61	2,479	$36,274	$104,005	−$133,295	$907
NAICS 54 Professional, scientific, and technical services NAICS 54	1,920	$86,860	$292,303	+$55,003	$2,172
NAICS 92 Public administration NAICS 92	1,596	$62,238	$200,651	−$36,649	$1,556
NAICS 56 Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services NAICS 56	1,581	$45,075	$136,765	−$100,535	$1,127
NAICS 71 Arts, entertainment, and recreation NAICS 71	1,440	$32,828	$91,177	−$146,123	$821
NAICS 81 Other services (except public administration) NAICS 81	1,233	$41,200	$122,341	−$114,959	$1,030
NAICS 55 Management of companies and enterprises NAICS 55	909	$107,344	$368,551	+$131,251	$2,684
NAICS 51 Information NAICS 51	700	$75,459	$249,864	+$12,564	$1,886
NAICS 53 Real estate and rental and leasing NAICS 53	390	$50,449	$156,769	−$80,531	$1,261
NAICS 22 Utilities NAICS 22	96	$125,974	$437,898	+$200,598	$3,149

Subsector	Employment	Avg annual wage	Affordable home price	vs. median value	Affordable monthly rent
NAICS 722 Food services and drinking places NAICS 722	3,676	$19,754	$42,512	−$194,788	$494
NAICS 333 Machinery manufacturing NAICS 333	3,422	$104,739	$358,855	+$121,555	$2,618
NAICS 621 Ambulatory health care services NAICS 621	2,947	$80,661	$269,228	+$31,928	$2,017
NAICS 524 Insurance carriers and related activities NAICS 524	2,563	$80,957	$270,330	+$33,030	$2,024
NAICS 611 Educational services NAICS 611	2,479	$36,274	$104,005	−$133,295	$907
NAICS 623 Nursing and residential care facilities NAICS 623	2,406	$40,497	$119,724	−$117,576	$1,012
NAICS 423 Merchant wholesalers, durable goods NAICS 423	2,212	$72,762	$239,825	+$2,525	$1,819
NAICS 332 Fabricated metal product manufacturing NAICS 332	2,176	$69,129	$226,302	−$10,998	$1,728
NAICS 541 Professional, scientific, and technical services NAICS 541	1,920	$86,860	$292,303	+$55,003	$2,172
NAICS 238 Specialty trade contractors NAICS 238	1,469	$65,951	$214,472	−$22,828	$1,649
NAICS 561 Administrative and support services NAICS 561	1,436	$43,256	$129,994	−$107,306	$1,081
NAICS 311 Food manufacturing NAICS 311	1,393	$65,363	$212,284	−$25,016	$1,634
NAICS 445 Food and beverage retailers NAICS 445	1,392	$26,494	$67,600	−$169,700	$662
NAICS 321 Wood product manufacturing NAICS 321	1,271	$71,411	$234,796	−$2,504	$1,785
NAICS 455 General merchandise retailers NAICS 455	1,198	$26,827	$68,840	−$168,460	$671
NAICS 713 Amusement, gambling, and recreation industries NAICS 713	1,164	$34,058	$95,756	−$141,544	$851
NAICS 921 Executive, legislative, and other general government support NAICS 921	1,145	$58,334	$186,119	−$51,181	$1,458
NAICS 522 Credit intermediation and related activities NAICS 522	1,088	$76,708	$254,514	+$17,214	$1,918
NAICS 493 Warehousing and storage NAICS 493	1,016	$42,640	$127,701	−$109,599	$1,066
NAICS 484 Truck transportation NAICS 484	914	$76,743	$254,644	+$17,344	$1,919
NAICS 551 Management of companies and enterprises NAICS 551	909	$107,344	$368,551	+$131,251	$2,684
NAICS 441 Motor vehicle and parts dealers NAICS 441	898	$61,300	$197,160	−$40,140	$1,533
NAICS 424 Merchant wholesalers, nondurable goods NAICS 424	763	$70,460	$231,257	−$6,043	$1,762
NAICS 236 Construction of buildings NAICS 236	726	$80,191	$267,479	+$30,179	$2,005
NAICS 444 Building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers NAICS 444	650	$42,598	$127,545	−$109,755	$1,065
NAICS 459 Sporting goods, hobby, musical instrument, book, and miscellaneous retailers NAICS 459	642	$22,118	$51,311	−$185,989	$553
NAICS 492 Couriers and messengers NAICS 492	642	$34,871	$98,782	−$138,518	$872
NAICS 721 Accommodation NAICS 721	584	$24,407	$59,832	−$177,468	$610
NAICS 811 Repair and maintenance NAICS 811	575	$48,068	$147,906	−$89,394	$1,202
NAICS 457 Gasoline stations and fuel dealers NAICS 457	525	$26,445	$67,418	−$169,882	$661
NAICS 237 Heavy and civil engineering construction NAICS 237	509	$86,677	$291,622	+$54,322	$2,167
NAICS 513 Publishing industries NAICS 513	451	$82,305	$275,348	+$38,048	$2,058
NAICS 449 Furniture, home furnishings, electronics, and appliance retailers NAICS 449	429	$40,909	$121,258	−$116,042	$1,023
NAICS 336 Transportation equipment manufacturing NAICS 336	420	$61,993	$199,739	−$37,561	$1,550
NAICS 456 Health and personal care retailers NAICS 456	358	$38,181	$111,103	−$126,197	$955
NAICS 458 Clothing, clothing accessories, shoe, and jewelry retailers NAICS 458	355	$25,254	$62,984	−$174,316	$631
NAICS 812 Personal and laundry services NAICS 812	336	$30,385	$82,084	−$155,216	$760
NAICS 488 Support activities for transportation NAICS 488	291	$85,173	$286,023	+$48,723	$2,129
NAICS 813 Religious, grantmaking, civic, professional, and similar organizations NAICS 813	290	$41,837	$124,712	−$112,588	$1,046
NAICS 326 Plastics and rubber products manufacturing NAICS 326	289	$58,334	$186,119	−$51,181	$1,458
NAICS 531 Real estate NAICS 531	284	$44,139	$133,281	−$104,019	$1,103
NAICS 331 Primary metal manufacturing NAICS 331	242	$57,108	$181,556	−$55,744	$1,428
NAICS 327 Nonmetallic mineral product manufacturing NAICS 327	229	$71,113	$233,687	−$3,613	$1,778
NAICS 312 Beverage and tobacco product manufacturing NAICS 312	212	$17,041	$32,413	−$204,887	$426
NAICS 922 Justice, public order, and safety activities NAICS 922	198	$78,461	$261,039	+$23,739	$1,962
NAICS 339 Miscellaneous manufacturing NAICS 339	178	$60,097	$192,682	−$44,618	$1,502
NAICS 562 Waste management and remediation services NAICS 562	145	$63,090	$203,823	−$33,477	$1,577
NAICS 491 Postal service NAICS 491	143	$71,341	$234,536	−$2,764	$1,784
NAICS 314 Textile product mills NAICS 314	134	$52,489	$164,362	−$72,938	$1,312
NAICS 323 Printing and related support activities NAICS 323	120	$47,233	$144,798	−$92,502	$1,181
NAICS 517 Telecommunications NAICS 517	107	$81,718	$273,163	+$35,863	$2,043
NAICS 532 Rental and leasing services NAICS 532	106	$67,354	$219,695	−$17,605	$1,684
NAICS 337 Furniture and related product manufacturing NAICS 337	100	$52,212	$163,331	−$73,969	$1,305
NAICS 112 Animal production and aquaculture NAICS 112	98	$41,562	$123,688	−$113,612	$1,039
NAICS 425 Wholesale trade agents and brokers NAICS 425	97	$73,507	$242,598	+$5,298	$1,838
NAICS 221 Utilities NAICS 221	96	$125,974	$437,898	+$200,598	$3,149
NAICS 923 Administration of human resource programs NAICS 923	73	$67,111	$218,790	−$18,510	$1,678
NAICS 115 Support activities for agriculture and forestry NAICS 115	63	$70,835	$232,652	−$4,648	$1,771
NAICS 485 Transit and ground passenger transportation NAICS 485	56	$29,281	$77,974	−$159,326	$732
NAICS 926 Administration of economic programs NAICS 926	52	$70,258	$230,505	−$6,795	$1,756
NAICS 516 Broadcasting and content providers NAICS 516	39	$45,204	$137,245	−$100,055	$1,130
NAICS 814 Private households NAICS 814	33	$24,795	$61,276	−$176,024	$620
NAICS 518 Computing infrastructure providers, data processing, web hosting, and related services NAICS 518	26	$139,553	$488,444	+$251,144	$3,489
NAICS 334 Computer and electronic product manufacturing NAICS 334	22	$54,334	$171,230	−$66,070	$1,358
NAICS 928 National security and international affairs NAICS 928	16	$58,706	$187,504	−$49,796	$1,468
NAICS 924 Administration of environmental quality programs NAICS 924	13	$66,459	$216,363	−$20,937	$1,661

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	810	(120)	(13%)	$12.75	$26,530	$67,734	$663
Fast Food and Counter Workers SOC 35-3023 · prior-year code differs	1,600	200	14%	$14.03	$29,180	$77,598	$730
Cashiers SOC 41-2011	1,240	(500)	(29%)	$15.04	$31,270	$85,378	$782
Childcare Workers SOC 39-9011	370	(90)	(20%)	$15.57	$32,390	$89,547	$810
Retail Salespersons SOC 41-2031	1,810	(100)	(5%)	$16.52	$34,360	$96,880	$859
Janitors and Cleaners SOC 37-2011	690	0	0%	$17.87	$37,160	$107,303	$929
Home Health and Personal Care Aides SOC 31-1131 · prior-year code differs	1,010	(10)	(1%)	$20.09	$41,790	$124,537	$1,045
Tellers SOC 43-3071	210	0	0%	$20.34	$42,300	$126,435	$1,058
Office Clerks, General SOC 43-9061	920	(60)	(6%)	$22.00	$45,760	$139,315	$1,144
Construction Laborers SOC 47-2061	500	90	22%	$25.75	$53,560	$168,349	$1,339
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General SOC 49-9071	570	30	6%	$26.18	$54,450	$171,662	$1,361
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education SOC 25-2021	560	100	22%	—	$57,680	$183,685	$1,442
Carpenters SOC 47-2031	260	0	0%	$28.17	$58,600	$187,110	$1,465
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers SOC 53-3032	1,310	220	20%	$28.21	$58,690	$187,445	$1,467
Electricians SOC 47-2111	210	(100)	(32%)	$31.18	$64,850	$210,374	$1,621
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters SOC 47-2152	120	40	50%	$32.54	$67,690	$220,946	$1,692
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers SOC 33-3051	170	20	13%	$36.80	$76,530	$253,851	$1,913
Registered Nurses SOC 29-1141	1,280	100	8%	$38.04	$79,120	$263,492	$1,978

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: 19061 · pulled from Full Housing Data Table.xlsx.