Howard County, IA

County

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Population

9,264

0.612% 1-year decline

US Senator

Chuck Grassley

Republican Party

US Senator

Joni Ernst

Republican Party

Median Age

42.2

Poverty Rate

11.9%

Median Household Income

$52,742

2.57% 1-year growth

Median Property Value

$107,600

0.0929% 1-year decline

Number of Employees

4,783

1.87% 1-year growth

About

In 2018, Howard County, IA had a population of 9.26k people with a median age of 42.2 and a median household income of $52,742. Between 2017 and 2018 the population of Howard County, IA declined from 9,321 to 9,264, a -0.612% decrease and its median household income grew from $51,422 to $52,742, a 2.57% increase.

The 5 largest ethnic groups in Howard County, IA are White (Non-Hispanic) (96.6%), White (Hispanic) (1.57%), Two+ (Non-Hispanic) (1.38%), Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) (0.313%), and Asian (Non-Hispanic) (0.0432%). 0% of the people in Howard County, IA speak a non-English language, and 99.9% are U.S. citizens.

In 2018, the median property value in Howard County, IA was $107,600, and the homeownership rate was 79.1%. Most people in Howard County, IA drove alone to work, and the average commute time was 17.2 minutes. The average car ownership in Howard County, IA was 2 cars per household.

Howard County, IA borders Chickasaw County, IA, Floyd County, IA, Mitchell County, IA, Fillmore County, MN, Mower County, MN, and Winneshiek County, IA.

United States Iowa

COVID-19

Daily New Cases by Date

Showing data at the state level for Iowa. Hospitalization data for some states may be delayed or not reported.

Y-Axis

This chart shows the number of COVID-19 daily new cases by date in Iowa, as a 7-day rolling average, compared with the four states with the most similar number of confirmed cases.

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Unemployment Insurance Claims

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Iowa.

This chart shows weekly unemployment insurance claims in Iowa (not-seasonally adjusted) compared with the four states with the most similar impact.

The most recent data point uses Advance State Claims data, which can be revised in subsequent weeks.

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Employment by Industry Sector

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Iowa.

Start Year

Y-Axis

-5.78%

Year-over-year decline

Employment change between November 2019 and November 2020

As of November 2020, there are 145M people employed in Iowa. This represents a -5.78% decrease in employment when compared to November 2019.

The following chart shows monthly employment numbers for each industry sector in Iowa.

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Community Mobility

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Iowa.

This chart presents movement trends over time in the state of Iowa across different categories of places such as retail and recreation, groceries and pharmacies, parks, transit stations, workplaces, and residential.

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Civics

In the 2016 presidential election, the popular vote in Howard County, IA went to Donald J. Trump with 57.3% of the vote. The runner-up was Hillary Rodham Clinton (36.8%), followed by Other (5.94%). The most partisan county was Lyon County, IA with 81.4% of the vote going to Donald J. Trump running for the Republican Party.

Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst are the senators currently representing the state of Iowa. In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

Iowa is currently represented by 4 members in the U.S. house, and members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms.

Presidential Popular Vote Over Time

Showing data up to the 2016 election. Updated election results are currently being processed, and will be released in the coming months.

2016 Election Results

Donald J. Trump (57.3%)
Republican Party
Hillary Rodham Clinton (36.8%)
Democratic Party
Other (5.94%)
Other Party

In the 2016 presidential election, the popular vote in Iowa went to Donald J. Trump with 57.3% of the vote. The runner-up was Hillary Rodham Clinton (36.8%), followed by Other (5.94%).

The following chart shows the popular vote results in Iowa for each registered party from 1976 to 2016.

Presidential Popular Vote by County

Presidential voting results are only available at the county level. Showing data for the counties inside of Iowa.

Showing data up to the 2016 election. Updated election results are currently being processed, and will be released in the coming months.

Donald J. Trump

Popular Vote for Howard County, IA

57.3% for the Republican Party

Most Partisan Counties in Iowa

Lyon County, IA
81.4% for Donald J. Trump (Republican Party)
Sioux County, IA
81.3% for Donald J. Trump (Republican Party)
Osceola County, IA
78.8% for Donald J. Trump (Republican Party)

In the 2016 presidential election, the most partisan county in Iowa was Lyon County, IA with 81.4% of the vote going to Donald J. Trump running for the Republican Party.

The following map shows the counties in Iowa colored by their party leaning.

US Senators from Iowa

Senatorial voting results are only available at the state level. Showing data for Iowa.

Chuck Grassley

Senator from Iowa

Assumed office on January 3, 1981

Joni Ernst

Senator from Iowa

Assumed office on January 3, 2015

Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst are the senators currently representing Iowa.

In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

The following chart shows elected senators in Iowa over time, excluding special elections, colored by their political party.

US Representatives from Iowa

Iowa is currently represented by 4 members in the U.S. house.

Members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms, and the following chart shows the how the members for Iowa have changed over time starting in 2008.

Diversity

Howard County, IA is home to a population of 9.26k people, from which 99.9% are citizens. As of 2018, 0.216% of Howard County, IA residents were born outside of the country (20 people).

In 2018, there were 61.7 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (8.95k people) in Howard County, IA than any other race or ethnicity. There were 145 White (Hispanic) and 128 Two+ (Non-Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

Race and Ethnicity

The 3 largest ethnic groups in Howard County, IA

White (Non-Hispanic)
8.95k ± 13
White (Hispanic)
145 ± 3
Two+ (Non-Hispanic)
128 ± 41.1

1.58%

Hispanic Population

146 people

1.58% of the people in Howard County, IA are hispanic (146 people).

The following chart shows the 7 races represented in Howard County, IA as a share of the total population.

Heritage

Foreign-Born Population

0.216%

2018 Foreign-Born Population

20 people

0.343%

2017 Foreign-Born Population

32 people

As of 2018, 0.216% of Howard County, IA residents (20 people) were born outside of the United States, which is lower than the national average of 13.7%. In 2017, the percentage of foreign-born citizens in Howard County, IA was 0.343%, meaning that the rate has been decreasing.

The following chart shows the percentage of foreign-born residents in Howard County, IA compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Age by Nativity

Median Native-Born Age

± 0.6

Median Foreign-Born Age

± 13.1

In 2018, the median age of all people in Howard County, IA was 42.2. Native-born citizens, with a median age of 42, were generally older than than foreign-born citizens, with a median age of 36. But people in Howard County, IA are getting getting older. In 2017, the average age of all Howard County, IA residents was 42.

Global Diversity

The PUMS dataset is not available at the County level, so we are showing data for Iowa.

Most Common Origin

Mexico
42,002 ± 4,998 people
India
10,599 ± 2,523 people
China
9,583 ± 2,400 people

In 2019, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of Iowa was Mexico, the natal country of 42,002 Iowa residents, followed by India with 10,599 and China with 9,583.

Citizenship

99.9%

2018 Citizenship

99.9%

2017 Citizenship

As of 2018, 99.9% of Howard County, IA residents were US citizens, which is higher than the national average of 93.2%. In 2017, the percentage of US citizens in Howard County, IA was 99.9%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been decreasing.

The following chart shows US citizenship percentages in Howard County, IA compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period

Vietnam
199 ± 53
Korea
97 ± 36
Gulf War (2001-)
75 ± 46

Howard County, IA has a large population of military personnel who served in Vietnam, 2.05 times greater than any other conflict.

Economy

Median household income in Howard County, IA is $52,742. In 2018, the tract with the highest Median Household Income in Howard County, IA was Census Tract 9602 with a value of $60,595, followed by Census Tract 9603 and Census Tract 9601, with respective values of $53,026 and $46,429.

Males in Iowa have an average income that is 1.35 times higher than the average income of females, which is $46,610. The income inequality in Iowa (measured using the Gini index) is 0.442, which is lower than than the national average.

The economy of Howard County, IA employs 4.78k people. The largest industries in Howard County, IA are Manufacturing (1,075 people), Health Care & Social Assistance (856 people), and Retail Trade (474 people), and the highest paying industries are Utilities ($74,750), Transportation & Warehousing, & Utilities ($46,750), and Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($42,958).

Wages

Median Household Income

$52,742

2018 value

± $3,010

2.57%

1 Year Growth

± 7.42%

Households in Howard County, IA have a median annual income of $52,742, which is less than the median annual income of $61,937 across the entire United States. This is in comparison to a median income of $51,422 in 2017, which represents a 2.57% annual growth.

The following chart shows how the median household income in Howard County, IA compares to that of its neighboring and parent geographies.

Wage by Gender in Common Jobs

The PUMS dataset is not available at the County level, so we are showing data for Iowa.

$62,795

Average Male Salary in Iowa

± $1,739

$46,610

Average Female Salary in Iowa

± $1,263

In 2019, full-time male employees in Iowa made 1.35 times more than female employees.

This chart shows the gender-based wage disparity in the 5 most common occupations in Iowa by number of full-time employees.

Wage by Race and Ethnicity in Common Jobs

The PUMS dataset is not available at the County level, so we are showing data for Iowa.

Highest Average Salaries by Race & Ethnicity in Iowa

Asian
$49,650 ± $7,144
White
$48,053 ± $1,042
American Indian and Alaska Native tribes specified; or American Indian or Alaska Native, not specified and no other races
$41,188 ± $22,357

In 2019 the highest paid race/ethnicity of Iowa workers was Asian. These workers were paid 1.03 times more than White workers, who made the second highest salary of any race/ethnicity in Iowa.

This chart shows the race- and ethnicity-based wage disparities in the 5 most common occupations in Iowa by number of full-time employees.

Wage Distribution

The closest comparable wage GINI for Howard County, IA is from Iowa.

0.442

2019 Wage GINI in Iowa

0.443

2018 Wage GINI in Iowa

In 2019, the income inequality in Iowa was 0.442 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 0.107% decline from 2018 to 2019, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat more even. The GINI for Iowa was lower than than the national average of 0.478. In other words, wages are distributed more evenly in Iowa in comparison to the national average.

This chart shows the number of workers in Iowa across various wage buckets compared to the national average.

Income by Location

Use the dropdown to filter by race/ethnicity.

Race/Ethnicity

Highest Median Household Income (Total)

Census Tract 9602
Census Tract 9603
Census Tract 9601

In 2018, the tract with the highest Median Household Income (Total) in Howard County, IA was Census Tract 9602 with a value of $60,595, followed by Census Tract 9603 and Census Tract 9601, with respective values of $53,026 and $46,429.

The following map shows all of the tracts in Howard County, IA colored by their Median Household Income (Total).

Poverty by Age and Gender

Females 18 - 24

Largest Demographic Living in Poverty

11.9% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Howard County, IA (1.08k out of 9.03k people) live below the poverty line, a number that is lower than the national average of 13.1%. The largest demographic living in poverty are Females 18 - 24, followed by Females 45 - 54 and then Females 35 - 44.

The Census Bureau uses a set of money income thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who classifies as impoverished. If a family's total income is less than the family's threshold than that family and every individual in it is considered to be living in poverty.

Poverty by Race and Ethnicity

Largest Race or Ethnicity Living in Poverty

White
1,002 ± 161
Two Or More
76 ± 90
Hispanic
51 ± 63

The most common racial or ethnic group living below the poverty line in Howard County, IA is White, followed by Two Or More and Hispanic.

Occupations

Employment by Occupations

4.78k

2018 Value

± 331

1.87%

1 Year growth

± 9.7%

From 2017 to 2018, employment in Howard County, IA grew at a rate of 1.87%, from 4.7k employees to 4.78k employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Howard County, IA, are Production Occupations (736 people), Management Occupations (541 people), and Office & Administrative Support Occupations (537 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Howard County, IA.

Most Common

The most common jobs held by residents of Howard County, IA, by number of employees, are Production Occupations (736 people), Management Occupations (541 people), and Office & Administrative Support Occupations (537 people).

Most Specialized

Compared to other counties, Howard County, IA has an unusually high number of residents working as Farming, Fishing, & Forestry Occupations (2.89 times higher than expected), Production Occupations (2.68 times), and Installation, Maintenance, & Repair Occupations (1.91 times).

Highest Paid

The highest paid jobs held by residents of Howard County, IA, by median earnings, are Life, Physical, & Social Science Occupations ($102,578), Architecture & Engineering Occupations ($74,830), and Computer, Engineering, & Science Occupations ($73,977).

Industries

Employment by Industries

4.78k

2018 Value

± 331

1.87%

1 Year growth

± 9.7%

From 2017 to 2018, employment in Howard County, IA grew at a rate of 1.87%, from 4.7k employees to 4.78k employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Howard County, IA, are Manufacturing (1,075 people), Health Care & Social Assistance (856 people), and Retail Trade (474 people). This chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of Howard County, IA, though some of these residents may live in Howard County, IA and work somewhere else. Census data is tagged to a residential address, not a work address.

Most Common

The most common industries in Howard County, IA, by number of employees, are Manufacturing (1,075 people), Health Care & Social Assistance (856 people), and Retail Trade (474 people).

Most Specialized

Compared to other counties, Howard County, IA has an unusually high number of Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Hunting (6.18 times higher than expected), Manufacturing (2.23 times), and Health Care & Social Assistance (1.29 times) industries.

Highest Paying

The highest paying industries in Howard County, IA, by median earnings, are Utilities ($74,750), Transportation & Warehousing, & Utilities ($46,750), and Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($42,958).

Domestic Trade

Domestic Production & Consumption

Domestic production and consumption consists of products and services shipped from Iowa to other states, or from other states to Iowa.

Top Domestic Production in Dollars

In 2015, the top outbound Iowa product (by dollars) was Cereal grains with $24.8B, followed by Machinery ($18.8B) and Other ag prods. ($18.2B).

The following chart shows the share of these products in relation to all outbound Iowa products.

Domestic Trade Growth

Showing data for Iowa.

$245B

2015 Value in Iowa

$363B

Projected 2045 Value in Iowa

47.9% growth

In 2015, total outbound Iowa trade was $245B. This is expected to increase 47.9% to $363B by 2045.

The following chart shows how the domestic outbound Iowa trade is projected to change in comparison to its neighboring states.

Interstate Trade

Interstate trade consists of products and services shipped from Iowa to other states, or from other states to Iowa.

Most Common Trade Partners

Illinois
$26.2B
Minnesota
$16.1B
Nebraska
$11.4B

In 2015, the top outbound Iowa domestic partner for goods and services (by dollars) was Illinois with $26.2B, followed by Minnesota with $16.1B and Nebraska and $11.4B.

The following map shows the amount of trade that Iowa shares with each state (excluding itself).

Housing & Living

The median property value in Howard County, IA was $107,600 in 2018, which is 0.468 times smaller than the national average of $229,700. Between 2017 and 2018 the median property value increased from $107,700 to $107,600, a 0.0929% decrease. The homeownership rate in Howard County, IA is 79.1%, which is higher than the national average of 63.9%. People in Howard County, IA have an average commute time of 17.2 minutes, and they drove alone to work. Car ownership in Howard County, IA is approximately the same as the national average, with an average of 2 cars per household.

Housing

Property Value

$107,600

2018 Median

± $8,545

$107,700

2017 Median

± $9,235

In 2018, the median property value in Howard County, IA declined from to $107,600 from the previous year's value of $107,700.

The following charts display, first, the property values in Howard County, IA compared to it's parent and neighbor geographies and, second, owner-occupied housing units distributed between a series of property value buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. In Howard County, IA the largest share of households have a property value in the $100k - $125k range.

Household Income

Please note that the buckets used in this visualization were not evenly distributed by ACS when publishing the data.

$52,742

Median Household Income

± $3,010

3.87k

Number of Households

± 299

In 2018, the median household income of the 3.87k households in Howard County, IA grew to $52,742 from the previous year's value of $51,422.

The following chart displays the households in Howard County, IA distributed between a series of income buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households have an income in the $75k - $100k range.

Property Taxes

$800 - $1,499

Average Range

This chart shows the households in Howard County, IA distributed between a series of property tax buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. In Howard County, IA the largest share of households pay taxes in the $800 - $1,499 range.

Rent vs Own

79.1%

2018 Homeownership

80%

2017 Homeownership

In 2018, 79.1% of the housing units in Howard County, IA were occupied by their owner. This percentage declined from the previous year's rate of 80%.

This percentage of owner-occupation is higher than the national average of 63.9%. This chart shows the ownership percentage in Howard County, IA compared it's parent and neighboring geographies.

Commute Time

17.2 minutes

Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Howard County, IA have a shorter commute time (17.2 minutes) than the normal US worker (25.3 minutes). Additionally, 0.991% of the workforce in Howard County, IA have "super commutes" in excess of 90 minutes.

The chart below shows how the median household income in Howard County, IA compares to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Commuter Transportation

Most Common Commute in 2018

Drove Alone (76.1%)
Carpooled (8.58%)
Worked At Home (6.95%)

In 2018, 76.1% of workers in Howard County, IA drove alone to work, followed by those who carpooled to work (8.58%) and those who worked at home (6.95%).

The following chart shows the number of households using each mode of transportation over time, using a logarithmic scale on the y-axis to help better show variations in the smaller means of commuting.

Transportation

Car Ownership

2 cars

Average Number

The following chart displays the households in Howard County, IA distributed between a series of car ownership buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households in Howard County, IA have 2 cars, followed by 3 cars.

Health

95.9% of the population of Howard County, IA has health coverage, with 49.1% on employee plans, 14.6% on Medicaid, 13.2% on Medicare, 17.7% on non-group plans, and 1.28% on military or VA plans.

Per capita personal health care spending in Iowa was $8,200 in 2014. This is a 5.05% increase from the previous year ($7,806).

Primary care physicians in Howard County, IA see 1837 patients per year on average, which represents a 0.488% decrease from the previous year (1846 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 4579 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 3053 patients per year.

Comparing across all counties in the state, Wayne County has the highest prevalence of diabetes (20.3%). Additionally, Wayne County has the highest prevalence of adult obesity (48.6%)

Patient to Clinician Ratios

1,837 to 1

Patient to Primary Care Physician Ratio in Howard County, IA

Primary care physicians in Howard County, IA see an average of 1,837 patients per year. This represents a 0.488% decrease from the previous year (1,846 patients).

The following chart shows how the number of patients seen by primary care physicians has been changing over time in Howard County, IA in comparison to its neighboring geographies.

Behavioral Health Conditions

Data only available at the state level.

State with the Highest Prevalence

West Virginia
8.26% of the population affected
Arkansas
8.13% of the population affected
New Hampshire
7.98% of the population affected

In 2016, West Virginia had the highest prevalence of adults with major depressive episode, with 8.26% of the population affected. The second highest is Arkansas (8.13%), followed by New Hampshire (7.98%).

The following map shows the percent of individuals with major depressive episode by state over multiple years.

Social Needs

Data only available at the state level.

Most prevalent states

California
35,798 individuals
New York
5,087 individuals
Florida
4,915 individuals

In 2017, California had the highest estimated number of chronically homeless individuals in the nation, at 35,798. New York has the second highest (5,087), followed by Florida (4,915).

The following map shows the estimated number of chronically homeless individuals by state over multiple years.

Access and Quality

Data only available at state level.

Most prevalent states

Mississippi
19.2% of adults
Texas
17.9% of adults
Louisiana
17.6% of adults

In 2016, Mississippi had the highest prevalence of adults who haven't seen a doctor in the past 12 months due to cost, at 19.2%. It is followed by Texas (17.9%) and Louisiana (17.6%).

The following map shows the prevalence of adults who haven't seen a doctor in the past 12 months due to cost by state over multiple years.

Health Care Spending

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Iowa.

$8,200

Total Per Capita Spending on Personal Health Care in Iowa

$4,076

Per Enrollee Private Health Insurance Spending on Personal Health Care

$6,702

Per Enrollee Medicaid Spending on Personal Health Care

$9,317

Per Enrollee Medicare Spending on Personal Health Care

Between 2013 and 2014, all personal health care spending per capita in Iowa (including private, Medicare, and Medicaid) grew 5.05%, from $7,806 to $8,200.

The following chart shows how this spending changed over time in comparison to Medicaid, Medicare, and private insurance spending, per enrollee.

Health Care Coverage

4.13%

Uninsured

49.1%

Employer Coverage

14.6%

Medicaid

13.2%

Medicare

17.7%

Non-Group

1.28%

Military or VA

Between 2017 and 2018, the percent of uninsured citizens in Howard County, IA declined by 23.6% from 5.41% to 4.13%.

The following chart shows how the percent of uninsured individuals in Howard County, IA changed over time compared with the percent of individuals enrolled in various types of health insurance.