Iowa · GEOID 19177

Van Buren County

2024 ACS 5-year estimates · population 7,241 · 3,490 housing units

Median household income

$61,161

State $75,689

Median home value

$114,600

State $208,740

Median gross rent

$622

State $976

Homeownership rate

81.6%

State 71.7%

Renter cost-burden rate

46.8%

≥30% of income

Owner cost-burden rate

17.0%

≥30% of income

Homeowner vacancy

0.0%

Of owner-occupied + for-sale units

Rental vacancy

3.3%

Of renter-occupied + for-rent units

Overall vacancy

17.0%

All housing units

Price-to-income ratio

1.87

Affordable: 2.0–3.0

Section 1

Community Profile

Population, demographics, household composition, and income.

Community Data Summary

	Van Buren County	Iowa
Population	7,241	3,210,507
Population density (per sq. mi.)	14.94	—
Median household income	$61,161	$75,689
HUD Area Median Income (4-person, 100%)	$82,500	—
Households	2,896	—
Average household size	2.47 people	—
Owner-occupied	81.6%	71.7%
Renter-occupied	18.4%	28.3%
Race	95.5% 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

Van Buren County compared with Iowa.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP05.

Educational attainment (population 25+)

18.8% 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	21.2%	$34,853	$871	$98,715
1 earner	28.7%	$69,489	$1,737	$227,642
2 earners	34.0%	$99,363	$2,484	$338,843
3+ earners	16.2%	$120,179	$3,004	$416,327

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

2,896

Average size: 2.47 people

Households with children

724

25.0% of households

Per-capita income

$33,900

Poverty rate: 15.6%

Section 2

Residential Market Analysis

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

Tenure

81.6% owner-occupied vs. state average 71.7%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP04.

Structure type

Single-family share 86.7% · Missing middle (2–19 units) 5.4%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25024.

Housing stock by decade

65.2% 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: $114,600.

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: $622.

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 594 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 0.0% · For rent 3.0% · Seasonal 34.0% · Other 62.0%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25004.

Frictional vs structural

4.0% of vacancy is frictional (for sale + for rent + rented/sold not yet occupied); 96.0% is structural (seasonal + migrant + other).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25004.

Seasonal / recreational share of all housing

5.8%

202 units of 3,490 total

Housing units held for seasonal or recreational use.

"Other vacant" share of all housing

10.5%

368 units of 3,490 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$48,929

100% MHI$61,161

120% MHI$73,393

County-wide median from ACS 5-year estimates. A household at 100% MHI in Van Buren 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	$57,750	$66,000	$82,500
120% AMI	$69,300	$79,200	$99,000

HUD FMR Area: Van Buren 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

46.8% of renter households spend ≥30% of income on rent (6.1% 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 Van Buren County.

Covered employment

1,499

Across 13 sectors

Establishments

195

QCEW 2024

Avg annual pay (workforce)

$48,927

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	501	$53,093	$166,611	+$52,011	$1,327
NAICS 44-45 Retail trade NAICS 44-45	216	$29,900	$80,278	−$34,322	$748
NAICS 61 Educational services NAICS 61	194	$41,616	$123,889	+$9,289	$1,040
NAICS 62 Health care and social assistance NAICS 62	192	$57,673	$183,659	+$69,059	$1,442
NAICS 42 Wholesale trade NAICS 42	104	$54,563	$172,082	+$57,482	$1,364
NAICS 48-49 Transportation and warehousing NAICS 48-49	73	$68,914	$225,502	+$110,902	$1,723
NAICS 23 Construction NAICS 23	57	$43,121	$129,491	+$14,891	$1,078
NAICS 52 Finance and insurance NAICS 52	51	$59,076	$188,881	+$74,281	$1,477
NAICS 54 Professional, scientific, and technical services NAICS 54	49	$33,343	$93,094	−$21,506	$834
NAICS 81 Other services (except public administration) NAICS 81	26	$39,755	$116,962	+$2,362	$994
NAICS 51 Information NAICS 51	21	$71,909	$236,650	+$122,050	$1,798
NAICS 92 Public administration NAICS 92	10	$67,232	$219,241	+$104,641	$1,681
NAICS 53 Real estate and rental and leasing NAICS 53	5	$22,218	$51,683	−$62,917	$555

Subsector	Employment	Avg annual wage	Affordable home price	vs. median value	Affordable monthly rent
NAICS 611 Educational services NAICS 611	194	$41,616	$123,889	+$9,289	$1,040
NAICS 921 Executive, legislative, and other general government support NAICS 921	111	$37,491	$108,535	−$6,065	$937
NAICS 457 Gasoline stations and fuel dealers NAICS 457	70	$18,598	$38,209	−$76,391	$465
NAICS 424 Merchant wholesalers, nondurable goods NAICS 424	67	$33,053	$92,015	−$22,585	$826
NAICS 112 Animal production and aquaculture NAICS 112	54	$42,552	$127,373	+$12,773	$1,064
NAICS 238 Specialty trade contractors NAICS 238	52	$45,682	$139,024	+$24,424	$1,142
NAICS 541 Professional, scientific, and technical services NAICS 541	49	$33,343	$93,094	−$21,506	$834
NAICS 522 Credit intermediation and related activities NAICS 522	45	$53,593	$168,472	+$53,872	$1,340
NAICS 484 Truck transportation NAICS 484	42	$53,799	$169,239	+$54,639	$1,345
NAICS 423 Merchant wholesalers, durable goods NAICS 423	37	$93,513	$317,068	+$202,468	$2,338
NAICS 722 Food services and drinking places NAICS 722	33	$16,680	$31,069	−$83,531	$417
NAICS 621 Ambulatory health care services NAICS 621	30	$68,640	$224,482	+$109,882	$1,716
NAICS 624 Social assistance NAICS 624	24	$19,158	$40,293	−$74,307	$479
NAICS 491 Postal service NAICS 491	21	$57,208	$181,928	+$67,328	$1,430
NAICS 924 Administration of environmental quality programs NAICS 924	17	$51,375	$160,216	+$45,616	$1,284
NAICS 445 Food and beverage retailers NAICS 445	17	$15,370	$26,193	−$88,407	$384
NAICS 444 Building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers NAICS 444	14	$36,955	$106,540	−$8,060	$924
NAICS 811 Repair and maintenance NAICS 811	13	$62,892	$203,086	+$88,486	$1,572
NAICS 561 Administrative and support services NAICS 561	10	$33,891	$95,134	−$19,466	$847
NAICS 926 Administration of economic programs NAICS 926	9	$65,724	$213,628	+$99,028	$1,643
NAICS 459 Sporting goods, hobby, musical instrument, book, and miscellaneous retailers NAICS 459	8	$15,956	$28,374	−$86,226	$399
NAICS 531 Real estate NAICS 531	5	$22,218	$51,683	−$62,917	$555

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	2,200	(370)	(14%)	$11.89	$24,730	$61,034	$618
Childcare Workers SOC 39-9011	530	(240)	(31%)	$13.18	$27,400	$70,973	$685
Fast Food and Counter Workers SOC 35-3023 · prior-year code differs	4,900	(2,530)	(34%)	$13.30	$27,660	$71,940	$692
Cashiers SOC 41-2011	6,090	(230)	(4%)	$13.84	$28,790	$76,147	$720
Retail Salespersons SOC 41-2031	4,690	(910)	(16%)	$16.02	$33,320	$93,009	$833
Janitors and Cleaners SOC 37-2011	3,580	(80)	(2%)	$17.36	$36,110	$103,394	$903
Tellers SOC 43-3071	830	(390)	(32%)	$18.27	$38,000	$110,429	$950
Home Health and Personal Care Aides SOC 31-1131 · prior-year code differs	2,990	(1,940)	(39%)	$19.61	$40,790	$120,815	$1,020
Office Clerks, General SOC 43-9061	2,920	(750)	(20%)	$21.01	$43,700	$131,647	$1,093
Construction Laborers SOC 47-2061	1,770	(410)	(19%)	$23.17	$48,200	$148,397	$1,205
Firefighters SOC 33-2011	290	70	32%	$25.12	$52,240	$163,436	$1,306
Carpenters SOC 47-2031	490	(260)	(35%)	$26.06	$54,200	$170,731	$1,355
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General SOC 49-9071	2,720	200	8%	$26.28	$54,650	$172,406	$1,366
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education SOC 25-2021	3,130	210	7%	—	$56,060	$177,655	$1,402
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers SOC 53-3032	4,950	(1,010)	(17%)	$26.98	$56,120	$177,878	$1,403
Paramedics SOC 29-2043 · prior-year code differs	170	(240)	(59%)	$29.02	$60,360	$193,661	$1,509
Electricians SOC 47-2111	750	(360)	(32%)	$30.26	$62,940	$203,265	$1,574
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters SOC 47-2152	500	(270)	(35%)	$33.03	$68,710	$224,742	$1,718
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers SOC 33-3051	660	(140)	(18%)	$33.24	$69,150	$226,380	$1,729
Registered Nurses SOC 29-1141	3,490	(430)	(11%)	$38.45	$79,970	$266,656	$1,999

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: 19177 · pulled from Full Housing Data Table.xlsx.