Iowa · GEOID 19129

Mills County

2024 ACS 5-year estimates · population 14,568 · 6,134 housing units

Median household income

$90,753

State $75,689

Median home value

$237,800

State $208,740

Median gross rent

$959

State $976

Homeownership rate

83.5%

State 71.7%

Renter cost-burden rate

35.3%

≥30% of income

Owner cost-burden rate

20.2%

≥30% of income

Homeowner vacancy

1.2%

Of owner-occupied + for-sale units

Rental vacancy

2.1%

Of renter-occupied + for-rent units

Overall vacancy

12.1%

All housing units

Price-to-income ratio

2.62

Affordable: 2.0–3.0

Section 1

Community Profile

Population, demographics, household composition, and income.

Community Data Summary

	Mills County	Iowa
Population	14,568	3,210,507
Population density (per sq. mi.)	33.30	—
Median household income	$90,753	$75,689
HUD Area Median Income (4-person, 100%)	$114,000	—
Households	5,394	—
Average household size	2.63 people	—
Owner-occupied	83.5%	71.7%
Renter-occupied	16.5%	28.3%
Race	93.4% White · 0.4% 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

Mills County compared with Iowa.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP05.

Educational attainment (population 25+)

31.0% 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	15.3%	$61,696	$1,542	$198,634
1 earner	30.8%	$83,137	$2,078	$278,445
2 earners	45.2%	$131,136	$3,278	$457,113
3+ earners	8.7%	$160,536	$4,013	$566,550

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

5,394

Average size: 2.63 people

Households with children

1,534

28.4% of households

Per-capita income

$42,497

Poverty rate: 7.8%

Section 2

Residential Market Analysis

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

Tenure

83.5% owner-occupied vs. state average 71.7%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP04.

Structure type

Single-family share 86.1% · Missing middle (2–19 units) 9.0%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25024.

Housing stock by decade

59.4% built before 1980 · Median structure age 1,972.00 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: $237,800.

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 740 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 7.6% · For rent 2.6% · Seasonal 13.4% · Other 59.1%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25004.

Frictional vs structural

27.6% of vacancy is frictional (for sale + for rent + rented/sold not yet occupied); 72.4% is structural (seasonal + migrant + other).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25004.

Seasonal / recreational share of all housing

1.6%

99 units of 6,134 total

Housing units held for seasonal or recreational use.

"Other vacant" share of all housing

7.1%

437 units of 6,134 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$72,602

100% MHI$90,753

120% MHI$108,904

County-wide median from ACS 5-year estimates. A household at 100% MHI in Mills 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	$63,850	$73,000	$91,200
100% AMI	$79,800	$91,200	$114,000
120% AMI	$95,750	$109,450	$136,800

HUD FMR Area: Omaha-Council Bluffs, NE-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

35.3% of renter households spend ≥30% of income on rent (19.4% spend ≥50%).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25070.

Owner cost burden by income

20.2% 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 Mills County.

Covered employment

2,417

Across 16 sectors

Establishments

396

QCEW 2024

Avg annual pay (workforce)

$55,031

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 61 Educational services NAICS 61	460	$43,200	$129,786	−$108,014	$1,080
NAICS 44-45 Retail trade NAICS 44-45	388	$31,701	$86,982	−$150,818	$793
NAICS 31-33 Manufacturing NAICS 31-33	236	$79,556	$265,115	+$27,315	$1,989
NAICS 23 Construction NAICS 23	215	$72,535	$238,980	+$1,180	$1,813
NAICS 72 Accommodation and food services NAICS 72	210	$17,116	$32,692	−$205,108	$428
NAICS 42 Wholesale trade NAICS 42	200	$109,783	$377,630	+$139,830	$2,745
NAICS 56 Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services NAICS 56	141	$60,323	$193,523	−$44,277	$1,508
NAICS 54 Professional, scientific, and technical services NAICS 54	135	$77,846	$258,750	+$20,950	$1,946
NAICS 52 Finance and insurance NAICS 52	105	$73,097	$241,072	+$3,272	$1,827
NAICS 81 Other services (except public administration) NAICS 81	97	$37,000	$106,707	−$131,093	$925
NAICS 71 Arts, entertainment, and recreation NAICS 71	88	$11,288	$10,998	−$226,802	$282
NAICS 53 Real estate and rental and leasing NAICS 53	40	$22,824	$53,939	−$183,861	$571
NAICS 51 Information NAICS 51	37	$87,102	$293,204	+$55,404	$2,178
NAICS 92 Public administration NAICS 92	30	$77,818	$258,645	+$20,845	$1,945
NAICS 48-49 Transportation and warehousing NAICS 48-49	28	$58,459	$186,585	−$51,215	$1,461
NAICS 55 Management of companies and enterprises NAICS 55	7	$219,654	$786,607	+$548,807	$5,491

Subsector	Employment	Avg annual wage	Affordable home price	vs. median value	Affordable monthly rent
NAICS 611 Educational services NAICS 611	460	$43,200	$129,786	−$108,014	$1,080
NAICS 921 Executive, legislative, and other general government support NAICS 921	190	$50,114	$155,522	−$82,278	$1,253
NAICS 623 Nursing and residential care facilities NAICS 623	169	$47,675	$146,443	−$91,357	$1,192
NAICS 423 Merchant wholesalers, durable goods NAICS 423	139	$128,707	$448,072	+$210,272	$3,218
NAICS 457 Gasoline stations and fuel dealers NAICS 457	139	$24,490	$60,141	−$177,659	$612
NAICS 541 Professional, scientific, and technical services NAICS 541	135	$77,846	$258,750	+$20,950	$1,946
NAICS 238 Specialty trade contractors NAICS 238	128	$54,023	$170,072	−$67,728	$1,351
NAICS 621 Ambulatory health care services NAICS 621	101	$51,572	$160,949	−$76,851	$1,289
NAICS 445 Food and beverage retailers NAICS 445	77	$26,317	$66,941	−$170,859	$658
NAICS 561 Administrative and support services NAICS 561	72	$51,875	$162,077	−$75,723	$1,297
NAICS 441 Motor vehicle and parts dealers NAICS 441	71	$56,350	$178,734	−$59,066	$1,409
NAICS 522 Credit intermediation and related activities NAICS 522	69	$79,808	$266,053	+$28,253	$1,995
NAICS 562 Waste management and remediation services NAICS 562	69	$69,139	$226,339	−$11,461	$1,728
NAICS 236 Construction of buildings NAICS 236	61	$119,851	$415,107	+$177,307	$2,996
NAICS 424 Merchant wholesalers, nondurable goods NAICS 424	58	$64,093	$207,556	−$30,244	$1,602
NAICS 811 Repair and maintenance NAICS 811	53	$49,659	$153,828	−$83,972	$1,241
NAICS 484 Truck transportation NAICS 484	38	$50,205	$155,861	−$81,939	$1,255
NAICS 812 Personal and laundry services NAICS 812	35	$19,003	$39,716	−$198,084	$475
NAICS 491 Postal service NAICS 491	28	$58,459	$186,585	−$51,215	$1,461
NAICS 237 Heavy and civil engineering construction NAICS 237	25	$54,767	$172,842	−$64,958	$1,369
NAICS 456 Health and personal care retailers NAICS 456	24	$49,220	$152,194	−$85,606	$1,231
NAICS 517 Telecommunications NAICS 517	24	$74,071	$244,698	+$6,898	$1,852
NAICS 111 Crop production NAICS 111	16	$40,314	$119,043	−$118,757	$1,008
NAICS 513 Publishing industries NAICS 513	8	$73,146	$241,255	+$3,455	$1,829
NAICS 551 Management of companies and enterprises NAICS 551	7	$219,654	$786,607	+$548,807	$5,491
NAICS 926 Administration of economic programs NAICS 926	5	$75,433	$249,768	+$11,968	$1,886
NAICS 924 Administration of environmental quality programs NAICS 924	3	$81,782	$273,401	+$35,601	$2,045
NAICS 425 Wholesale trade agents and brokers NAICS 425	3	$116,299	$401,885	+$164,085	$2,907

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
Fast Food and Counter Workers SOC 35-3023 · prior-year code differs	15,580	3,650	31%	$15.04	$31,290	$85,452	$782
Cashiers SOC 41-2011	9,110	(2,300)	(20%)	$15.69	$32,640	$90,478	$816
Childcare Workers SOC 39-9011	4,940	1,180	31%	$15.93	$33,140	$92,339	$829
Retail Salespersons SOC 41-2031	12,080	(3,410)	(22%)	$17.12	$35,610	$101,533	$890
Janitors and Cleaners SOC 37-2011	6,690	(400)	(6%)	$17.88	$37,190	$107,414	$930
Waiters and Waitresses SOC 35-3031	7,620	(70)	(1%)	$19.05	$39,620	$116,460	$991
Tellers SOC 43-3071	1,650	70	4%	$19.63	$40,830	$120,964	$1,021
Office Clerks, General SOC 43-9061	4,400	(2,440)	(36%)	$20.18	$41,970	$125,207	$1,049
Home Health and Personal Care Aides SOC 31-1131 · prior-year code differs	7,740	1,260	19%	$20.68	$43,020	$129,116	$1,076
Construction Laborers SOC 47-2061	3,990	2,160	118%	$23.83	$49,570	$153,497	$1,239
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General SOC 49-9071	4,360	740	20%	$26.00	$54,080	$170,285	$1,352
Paramedics SOC 29-2043 · prior-year code differs	210	(140)	(40%)	$27.13	$56,420	$178,995	$1,411
Carpenters SOC 47-2031	3,230	(390)	(11%)	$27.21	$56,590	$179,628	$1,415
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers SOC 53-3032	10,210	(3,310)	(24%)	$28.22	$58,710	$187,519	$1,468
Firefighters SOC 33-2011	660	(120)	(15%)	$28.87	$60,060	$192,544	$1,502
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education SOC 25-2021	4,030	(30)	(1%)	—	$63,870	$206,726	$1,597
Electricians SOC 47-2111	3,530	970	38%	$32.10	$66,780	$217,558	$1,670
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters SOC 47-2152	2,430	680	39%	$34.19	$71,120	$233,713	$1,778
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers SOC 33-3051	1,640	(130)	(7%)	$39.25	$81,650	$272,909	$2,041
Registered Nurses SOC 29-1141	13,200	1,740	15%	$43.68	$90,860	$307,192	$2,272

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: 19129 · pulled from Full Housing Data Table.xlsx.