Iowa · GEOID 19063

Emmet County

2024 ACS 5-year estimates · population 9,262 · 4,520 housing units

Median household income

$63,730

State $75,689

Median home value

$114,100

State $208,740

Median gross rent

$733

State $976

Homeownership rate

79.4%

State 71.7%

Renter cost-burden rate

38.3%

≥30% of income

Owner cost-burden rate

16.0%

≥30% of income

Homeowner vacancy

0.7%

Of owner-occupied + for-sale units

Rental vacancy

9.3%

Of renter-occupied + for-rent units

Overall vacancy

10.1%

All housing units

Price-to-income ratio

1.79

Affordable: 2.0–3.0

Section 1

Community Profile

Population, demographics, household composition, and income.

Community Data Summary

	Emmet County	Iowa
Population	9,262	3,210,507
Population density (per sq. mi.)	23.40	—
Median household income	$63,730	$75,689
HUD Area Median Income (4-person, 100%)	$87,600	—
Households	4,063	—
Average household size	2.15 people	—
Owner-occupied	79.4%	71.7%
Renter-occupied	20.6%	28.3%
Race	87.1% White · 1.6% 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

Emmet County compared with Iowa.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP05.

Educational attainment (population 25+)

17.1% 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	17.4%	$52,250	$1,306	$163,473
1 earner	25.2%	$51,016	$1,275	$158,879
2 earners	43.9%	$88,566	$2,214	$298,653
3+ earners	13.5%	$101,063	$2,527	$345,171

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

4,063

Average size: 2.15 people

Households with children

767

18.9% of households

Per-capita income

$36,351

Poverty rate: 9.1%

Section 2

Residential Market Analysis

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

Tenure

79.4% owner-occupied vs. state average 71.7%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP04.

Structure type

Single-family share 84.2% · Missing middle (2–19 units) 10.3%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25024.

Housing stock by decade

86.1% built before 1980 · Median structure age 1,955.00 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: $114,100.

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: $733.

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 457 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 5.0% · For rent 18.8% · Seasonal 11.2% · Other 63.7%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25004.

Frictional vs structural

25.2% of vacancy is frictional (for sale + for rent + rented/sold not yet occupied); 74.8% is structural (seasonal + migrant + other).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25004.

Seasonal / recreational share of all housing

1.1%

51 units of 4,520 total

Housing units held for seasonal or recreational use.

"Other vacant" share of all housing

6.4%

291 units of 4,520 total

⚑ Above the 5% threshold — possible indicator of disinvestment, abandonment, or condemned stock.

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$50,984

100% MHI$63,730

120% MHI$76,476

County-wide median from ACS 5-year estimates. A household at 100% MHI in Emmet 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	$61,320	$70,080	$87,600
120% AMI	$73,600	$84,100	$105,100

HUD FMR Area: Emmet County, IA. 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

38.3% of renter households spend ≥30% of income on rent (23.6% spend ≥50%).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25070.

Owner cost burden by income

16.0% 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 Emmet County.

Covered employment

2,333

Across 13 sectors

Establishments

265

QCEW 2024

Avg annual pay (workforce)

$51,076

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	624	$60,970	$195,932	+$81,832	$1,524
NAICS 44-45 Retail trade NAICS 44-45	420	$30,059	$80,870	−$33,230	$751
NAICS 61 Educational services NAICS 61	388	$48,476	$149,425	+$35,325	$1,212
NAICS 92 Public administration NAICS 92	185	$48,500	$149,514	+$35,414	$1,213
NAICS 23 Construction NAICS 23	148	$51,875	$162,077	+$47,977	$1,297
NAICS 42 Wholesale trade NAICS 42	113	$77,530	$257,573	+$143,473	$1,938
NAICS 11 Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting NAICS 11	111	$50,237	$155,980	+$41,880	$1,256
NAICS 81 Other services (except public administration) NAICS 81	104	$38,225	$111,267	−$2,833	$956
NAICS 52 Finance and insurance NAICS 52	94	$65,370	$212,310	+$98,210	$1,634
NAICS 54 Professional, scientific, and technical services NAICS 54	72	$72,261	$237,960	+$123,860	$1,807
NAICS 51 Information NAICS 51	47	$41,316	$122,773	+$8,673	$1,033
NAICS 48-49 Transportation and warehousing NAICS 48-49	22	$62,121	$200,216	+$86,116	$1,553
NAICS 53 Real estate and rental and leasing NAICS 53	5	$12,459	$15,357	−$98,743	$311

Subsector	Employment	Avg annual wage	Affordable home price	vs. median value	Affordable monthly rent
NAICS 611 Educational services NAICS 611	388	$48,476	$149,425	+$35,325	$1,212
NAICS 311 Food manufacturing NAICS 311	307	$61,960	$199,617	+$85,517	$1,549
NAICS 333 Machinery manufacturing NAICS 333	245	$63,926	$206,935	+$92,835	$1,598
NAICS 623 Nursing and residential care facilities NAICS 623	200	$37,903	$110,068	−$4,032	$948
NAICS 624 Social assistance NAICS 624	104	$27,439	$71,118	−$42,982	$686
NAICS 457 Gasoline stations and fuel dealers NAICS 457	101	$27,521	$71,423	−$42,677	$688
NAICS 238 Specialty trade contractors NAICS 238	96	$54,156	$170,568	+$56,468	$1,354
NAICS 112 Animal production and aquaculture NAICS 112	82	$57,384	$182,583	+$68,483	$1,435
NAICS 522 Credit intermediation and related activities NAICS 522	74	$65,536	$212,928	+$98,828	$1,638
NAICS 541 Professional, scientific, and technical services NAICS 541	72	$72,261	$237,960	+$123,860	$1,807
NAICS 621 Ambulatory health care services NAICS 621	63	$33,108	$92,220	−$21,880	$828
NAICS 811 Repair and maintenance NAICS 811	58	$48,336	$148,903	+$34,803	$1,208
NAICS 424 Merchant wholesalers, nondurable goods NAICS 424	57	$88,548	$298,586	+$184,486	$2,214
NAICS 441 Motor vehicle and parts dealers NAICS 441	57	$36,931	$106,450	−$7,650	$923
NAICS 444 Building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers NAICS 444	46	$32,881	$91,375	−$22,725	$822
NAICS 484 Truck transportation NAICS 484	32	$49,276	$152,402	+$38,302	$1,232
NAICS 513 Publishing industries NAICS 513	31	$36,028	$103,089	−$11,011	$901
NAICS 236 Construction of buildings NAICS 236	29	$50,256	$156,050	+$41,950	$1,256
NAICS 455 General merchandise retailers NAICS 455	26	$19,928	$43,159	−$70,941	$498
NAICS 813 Religious, grantmaking, civic, professional, and similar organizations NAICS 813	25	$17,190	$32,968	−$81,132	$430
NAICS 488 Support activities for transportation NAICS 488	24	$73,708	$243,347	+$129,247	$1,843
NAICS 237 Heavy and civil engineering construction NAICS 237	23	$44,395	$134,234	+$20,134	$1,110
NAICS 491 Postal service NAICS 491	22	$62,121	$200,216	+$86,116	$1,553
NAICS 459 Sporting goods, hobby, musical instrument, book, and miscellaneous retailers NAICS 459	22	$69,600	$228,055	+$113,955	$1,740
NAICS 449 Furniture, home furnishings, electronics, and appliance retailers NAICS 449	18	$24,620	$60,624	−$53,476	$616
NAICS 926 Administration of economic programs NAICS 926	11	$67,626	$220,707	+$106,607	$1,691
NAICS 924 Administration of environmental quality programs NAICS 924	7	$61,999	$199,762	+$85,662	$1,550
NAICS 531 Real estate NAICS 531	5	$12,459	$15,357	−$98,743	$311

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	1,570	(190)	(11%)	$12.04	$25,040	$62,188	$626
Childcare Workers SOC 39-9011	670	30	5%	$12.31	$25,610	$64,310	$640
Fast Food and Counter Workers SOC 35-3023 · prior-year code differs	3,080	840	38%	$13.05	$27,140	$70,005	$679
Cashiers SOC 41-2011	4,990	(250)	(5%)	$14.06	$29,250	$77,859	$731
Retail Salespersons SOC 41-2031	3,060	(370)	(11%)	$16.30	$33,900	$95,168	$848
Janitors and Cleaners SOC 37-2011	2,350	190	9%	$18.01	$37,460	$108,419	$937
Tellers SOC 43-3071	610	(420)	(41%)	$19.57	$40,710	$120,517	$1,018
Home Health and Personal Care Aides SOC 31-1131 · prior-year code differs	3,070	(240)	(7%)	$19.88	$41,340	$122,862	$1,034
Firefighters SOC 33-2011	210	130	163%	$19.90	$41,380	$123,011	$1,035
Office Clerks, General SOC 43-9061	2,410	(190)	(7%)	$21.02	$43,730	$131,758	$1,093
Construction Laborers SOC 47-2061	1,450	100	7%	$23.15	$48,160	$148,248	$1,204
Carpenters SOC 47-2031	530	(260)	(33%)	$24.68	$51,330	$160,048	$1,283
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General SOC 49-9071	1,730	270	18%	$25.97	$54,020	$170,061	$1,351
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers SOC 53-3032	5,110	570	13%	$26.75	$55,640	$176,091	$1,391
Paramedics SOC 29-2043 · prior-year code differs	120	(140)	(54%)	$26.91	$55,970	$177,320	$1,399
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education SOC 25-2021	2,030	380	23%	—	$58,840	$188,003	$1,471
Electricians SOC 47-2111	1,270	460	57%	$29.49	$61,340	$197,309	$1,534
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters SOC 47-2152	360	90	33%	$30.69	$63,840	$206,615	$1,596
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers SOC 33-3051	470	(10)	(2%)	$34.73	$72,240	$237,882	$1,806
Registered Nurses SOC 29-1141	3,190	250	9%	$37.76	$78,550	$261,370	$1,964

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: 19063 · pulled from Full Housing Data Table.xlsx.