Wisconsin · GEOID 55049

Iowa County

2024 ACS 5-year estimates · population 23,867 · 11,108 housing units

Median household income

$82,182

State $78,421

Median home value

$265,000

State $270,495

Median gross rent

$954

State $1,096

Homeownership rate

77.4%

State 67.8%

Renter cost-burden rate

37.1%

≥30% of income

Owner cost-burden rate

19.6%

≥30% of income

Homeowner vacancy

2.0%

Of owner-occupied + for-sale units

Rental vacancy

3.7%

Of renter-occupied + for-rent units

Overall vacancy

8.9%

All housing units

Price-to-income ratio

3.22

Affordable: 2.0–3.0

Section 1

Community Profile

Population, demographics, household composition, and income.

Community Data Summary

	Iowa County	Wisconsin
Population	23,867	5,914,872
Population density (per sq. mi.)	31.29	—
Median household income	$82,182	$78,421
HUD Area Median Income (4-person, 100%)	$110,900	—
Households	10,118	—
Average household size	2.33 people	—
Owner-occupied	77.4%	67.8%
Renter-occupied	22.6%	32.2%
Race	92.9% White · 0.8% 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

Iowa County compared with Wisconsin.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP05.

Educational attainment (population 25+)

28.4% hold a bachelor's degree or higher (state: 33.4%).

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%	$58,207	$1,455	$185,647
1 earner	24.1%	$76,182	$1,905	$252,556
2 earners	49.5%	$125,231	$3,131	$435,133
3+ earners	12.0%	$157,583	$3,940	$555,558

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

10,118

Average size: 2.33 people

Households with children

2,345

23.2% of households

Per-capita income

$43,164

Poverty rate: 6.3%

Section 2

Residential Market Analysis

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

Tenure

77.4% owner-occupied vs. state average 67.8%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP04.

Structure type

Single-family share 83.3% · Missing middle (2–19 units) 12.1%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25024.

Housing stock by decade

55.2% built before 1980 · Median structure age 1,975.00 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: $265,000.

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: $954.

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 990 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 16.2% · For rent 9.0% · Seasonal 36.3% · Other 33.4%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25004.

Frictional vs structural

30.3% of vacancy is frictional (for sale + for rent + rented/sold not yet occupied); 69.7% is structural (seasonal + migrant + other).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25004.

Seasonal / recreational share of all housing

3.2%

359 units of 11,108 total

Housing units held for seasonal or recreational use.

"Other vacant" share of all housing

3.0%

331 units of 11,108 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$65,746

100% MHI$82,182

120% MHI$98,618

County-wide median from ACS 5-year estimates. A household at 100% MHI in Iowa 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	$62,100	$71,000	$88,700
100% AMI	$77,630	$88,720	$110,900
120% AMI	$93,150	$106,450	$133,100

HUD FMR Area: Iowa County, WI 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

37.1% of renter households spend ≥30% of income on rent (17.8% spend ≥50%).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25070.

Owner cost burden by income

19.6% 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 Iowa County.

Covered employment

8,008

Across 15 sectors

Establishments

559

QCEW 2024

Avg annual pay (workforce)

$54,191

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 44-45 Retail trade NAICS 44-45	2,881	$48,615	$149,942	−$115,058	$1,215
NAICS 31-33 Manufacturing NAICS 31-33	2,177	$71,054	$233,468	−$31,532	$1,776
NAICS 72 Accommodation and food services NAICS 72	604	$16,759	$31,363	−$233,637	$419
NAICS 42 Wholesale trade NAICS 42	484	$80,454	$268,458	+$3,458	$2,011
NAICS 23 Construction NAICS 23	426	$60,775	$195,206	−$69,794	$1,519
NAICS 92 Public administration NAICS 92	380	$37,030	$106,819	−$158,181	$926
NAICS 71 Arts, entertainment, and recreation NAICS 71	361	$29,208	$77,703	−$187,297	$730
NAICS 54 Professional, scientific, and technical services NAICS 54	177	$63,412	$205,021	−$59,979	$1,585
NAICS 81 Other services (except public administration) NAICS 81	168	$39,946	$117,673	−$147,327	$999
NAICS 52 Finance and insurance NAICS 52	162	$70,573	$231,677	−$33,323	$1,764
NAICS 56 Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services NAICS 56	69	$42,656	$127,761	−$137,239	$1,066
NAICS 48-49 Transportation and warehousing NAICS 48-49	47	$66,195	$215,381	−$49,619	$1,655
NAICS 51 Information NAICS 51	39	$63,703	$206,105	−$58,895	$1,593
NAICS 53 Real estate and rental and leasing NAICS 53	22	$41,709	$124,236	−$140,764	$1,043
NAICS 55 Management of companies and enterprises NAICS 55	11	$75,020	$248,230	−$16,770	$1,876

Subsector	Employment	Avg annual wage	Affordable home price	vs. median value	Affordable monthly rent
NAICS 333 Machinery manufacturing NAICS 333	648	$77,173	$256,245	−$8,755	$1,929
NAICS 722 Food services and drinking places NAICS 722	518	$16,316	$29,714	−$235,286	$408
NAICS 311 Food manufacturing NAICS 311	410	$60,354	$193,639	−$71,361	$1,509
NAICS 623 Nursing and residential care facilities NAICS 623	291	$37,871	$109,949	−$155,051	$947
NAICS 424 Merchant wholesalers, nondurable goods NAICS 424	288	$67,060	$218,601	−$46,399	$1,677
NAICS 621 Ambulatory health care services NAICS 621	268	$95,324	$323,809	+$58,809	$2,383
NAICS 238 Specialty trade contractors NAICS 238	248	$54,362	$171,334	−$93,666	$1,359
NAICS 457 Gasoline stations and fuel dealers NAICS 457	231	$26,935	$69,242	−$195,758	$673
NAICS 112 Animal production and aquaculture NAICS 112	183	$38,100	$110,802	−$154,198	$953
NAICS 541 Professional, scientific, and technical services NAICS 541	177	$63,412	$205,021	−$59,979	$1,585
NAICS 484 Truck transportation NAICS 484	145	$69,160	$226,417	−$38,583	$1,729
NAICS 713 Amusement, gambling, and recreation industries NAICS 713	135	$16,783	$31,453	−$233,547	$420
NAICS 522 Credit intermediation and related activities NAICS 522	118	$73,169	$241,340	−$23,660	$1,829
NAICS 321 Wood product manufacturing NAICS 321	105	$44,303	$133,891	−$131,109	$1,108
NAICS 441 Motor vehicle and parts dealers NAICS 441	102	$62,216	$200,570	−$64,430	$1,555
NAICS 111 Crop production NAICS 111	91	$55,192	$174,424	−$90,576	$1,380
NAICS 813 Religious, grantmaking, civic, professional, and similar organizations NAICS 813	90	$37,352	$108,017	−$156,983	$934
NAICS 721 Accommodation NAICS 721	86	$19,425	$41,287	−$223,713	$486
NAICS 445 Food and beverage retailers NAICS 445	60	$21,548	$49,189	−$215,811	$539
NAICS 811 Repair and maintenance NAICS 811	55	$48,403	$149,153	−$115,847	$1,210
NAICS 444 Building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers NAICS 444	49	$58,684	$187,422	−$77,578	$1,467
NAICS 485 Transit and ground passenger transportation NAICS 485	48	$18,284	$37,040	−$227,960	$457
NAICS 491 Postal service NAICS 491	47	$66,195	$215,381	−$49,619	$1,655
NAICS 449 Furniture, home furnishings, electronics, and appliance retailers NAICS 449	37	$49,402	$152,872	−$112,128	$1,235
NAICS 524 Insurance carriers and related activities NAICS 524	34	$44,463	$134,487	−$130,513	$1,112
NAICS 531 Real estate NAICS 531	22	$41,709	$124,236	−$140,764	$1,043
NAICS 323 Printing and related support activities NAICS 323	17	$50,921	$158,526	−$106,474	$1,273
NAICS 513 Publishing industries NAICS 513	14	$67,162	$218,980	−$46,020	$1,679
NAICS 517 Telecommunications NAICS 517	12	$100,005	$341,233	+$76,233	$2,500
NAICS 327 Nonmetallic mineral product manufacturing NAICS 327	11	$70,019	$229,615	−$35,385	$1,750
NAICS 332 Fabricated metal product manufacturing NAICS 332	11	$33,090	$92,153	−$172,847	$827
NAICS 551 Management of companies and enterprises NAICS 551	11	$75,020	$248,230	−$16,770	$1,876
NAICS 523 Securities, commodity contracts, and other financial investments and related activities NAICS 523	10	$128,709	$448,079	+$183,079	$3,218
NAICS 926 Administration of economic programs NAICS 926	9	$65,478	$212,712	−$52,288	$1,637
NAICS 922 Justice, public order, and safety activities NAICS 922	6	$68,882	$225,383	−$39,617	$1,722
NAICS 924 Administration of environmental quality programs NAICS 924	5	$66,362	$216,002	−$48,998	$1,659

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	9,180	(250)	(3%)	$14.89	$30,970	$84,261	$774
Cashiers SOC 41-2011	7,960	1,080	16%	$16.32	$33,940	$95,317	$849
Childcare Workers SOC 39-9011	680	(160)	(19%)	$16.92	$35,190	$99,970	$880
Retail Salespersons SOC 41-2031	8,330	(2,460)	(23%)	$18.25	$37,950	$110,243	$949
Waiters and Waitresses SOC 35-3031	5,130	(120)	(2%)	$18.49	$38,450	$112,104	$961
Janitors and Cleaners SOC 37-2011	6,780	550	9%	$19.58	$40,720	$120,554	$1,018
Tellers SOC 43-3071	1,070	(140)	(12%)	$20.42	$42,470	$127,068	$1,062
Home Health and Personal Care Aides SOC 31-1131 · prior-year code differs	3,420	(1,200)	(26%)	$22.23	$46,240	$141,101	$1,156
Office Clerks, General SOC 43-9061	5,970	(6,630)	(53%)	$23.08	$48,000	$147,653	$1,200
Firefighters SOC 33-2011	1,230	80	7%	$26.13	$54,360	$171,327	$1,359
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General SOC 49-9071	3,790	130	4%	$27.19	$56,560	$179,516	$1,414
Construction Laborers SOC 47-2061	2,370	750	46%	$28.10	$58,440	$186,514	$1,461
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers SOC 53-3032	4,160	660	19%	$28.67	$59,620	$190,906	$1,491
Paramedics SOC 29-2043 · prior-year code differs	220	(440)	(67%)	$29.78	$61,940	$199,542	$1,549
Carpenters SOC 47-2031	2,320	(50)	(2%)	$32.75	$68,120	$222,546	$1,703
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education SOC 25-2021	3,530	(110)	(3%)	—	$70,940	$233,043	$1,774
Electricians SOC 47-2111	1,760	420	31%	$36.50	$75,920	$251,580	$1,898
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers SOC 33-3051	1,600	(30)	(2%)	$38.89	$80,890	$270,081	$2,022
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters SOC 47-2152	1,590	470	42%	$41.63	$86,590	$291,298	$2,165
Registered Nurses SOC 29-1141	10,650	3,070	41%	$48.29	$100,430	$342,815	$2,511

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: 55049 · pulled from Full Housing Data Table.xlsx.