Black Hawk County, IA Local Data & Statistics

State: IA

Total population: 131,049 Household income: $66,417 Rent: $989

Overview

Total population

131,049

Rent

$989

Year built

1966

Household income

$66,417

Per capita income

$37,541

Poverty rate

14.9%

Unemployment rate

3.8%

Household size

2.3 persons

Rent over 30% of income

46.5%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Demographics

State

Iowa

Total population

131,049

Adults over 25

83,288

Total households

54,563

Household size

2.3 persons

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Income & Poverty

Household income

$66,417

Per capita income

$37,541

Poverty rate

14.9%

Unemployment rate

3.8%

Rent over 30% of income

46.5%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Housing

Rent

$989

Year built

1966

Households that rent

33.8%

Households that own

66.2%

Rooms per home (all homes)

5.6

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Race

White

79.5%

Black

9.3%

Asian

2.7%

Two or more races

5.1%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino

5.2%

Not Hispanic or Latino

94.8%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Commute

Commute rate

91.1%

Commute time to work

16 mins

Work from home

8.9%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Education

Less than high school

25.9%

High school graduate or GED

30.4%

Some college or associate degree

13.4%

Bachelor’s degree or higher

30.3%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Comparison of Black Hawk County, IA with: Iowa United States

Black Hawk County, IA

Total population131,049

Rent$989

Year built1966

Household income$66,417

Per capita income$37,541

Poverty rate14.9%

Unemployment rate3.8%

Iowa State

Total population3,210,507

Rent$972

Year built1972

Household income$75,059

Per capita income$40,877

Poverty rate11.1%

Unemployment rate3%

United States

Total population334,922,499

Rent$1,413

Year built1980

Household income$80,734

Per capita income$44,673

Poverty rate12.5%

Unemployment rate4%

Metric	CountyBlack Hawk County, IA	StateIowa	CountryUnited States
Total population	131,049	3,210,507	334,922,499
Rent	$989	$972	$1,413
Year built	1966	1972	1980
Household income	$66,417	$75,059	$80,734
Per capita income	$37,541	$40,877	$44,673
Poverty rate	14.9%	11.1%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	3.8%	3%	4%

View the complete comparison of Black Hawk County, IA, Iowa and United States →

Summary for Black Hawk County, IA

Black Hawk County is located in Iowa .

Rent & Income

In Black Hawk County, the monthly rent is $989 and household income is $66,417. Rent is similar to Iowa and lower than the U.S., and household income is lower than both Iowa and the U.S. The poverty rate is 14.9%, which is higher than both Iowa and the national rate.

Housing & Affordability

This area is primarily owner-occupied, with renters accounting for about 33.8% of households. About 46.5% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, indicating high cost burden.

Education & Employment

Educational attainment is moderate, with about 30.3% of adults holding a bachelor’s degree or higher. The unemployment rate is 3.8%, which is higher than Iowa and similar to the national rate.

Black Hawk County, IA — Rent vs Household Income

Black Hawk County, IA — Poverty vs Unemployment

💰 Rent in Black Hawk County, IA (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $989 ℹ️ What’s Included:
✅ Base rent, electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuels
❌ Not included: internet, cable TV, renter's insurance, parking

💡 What does this rent estimate mean?

Explanation: This estimate shows what renters typically pay each month for housing, including the apartment or home and essential utilities such as heat, water, and electricity. Even when utilities are billed separately, an estimated average cost for utilities is included, in line with the U.S. Census Bureau’s (ACS) definition of gross rent.

Included in this number: Rent plus electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuel.

Not included: Internet, cable, parking, renter’s insurance, or furniture rental.

Note: This cost does not depend on the number of people living in the home.

👨‍👧‍👦 Household Income in Black Hawk County, IA

Annual Household Income: $66,417

💡 What does Household Income mean?

Definition: This represents the middle value of all household incomes in this area — half of households earn less, and half earn more.

Includes: wages, salaries, self-employment income, Social Security, pensions, investments, unemployment, public assistance, and rental income.

Does NOT include: capital gains, non-cash benefits (like food stamps), or tax refunds.

Household = any group of people (or a single person) living in the same housing unit.

Example: A couple earning $40,000 and $30,000 together have a household income of $70,000. If that's in the middle of all local incomes, it's the value shown here.

📉 Poverty Rate in Black Hawk County, IA

Estimated Rate: 14.9%

💡 What does the Poverty Rate represent?

Definition: The percentage of people in this area living below the federal poverty threshold.

How it works: The threshold is a dollar amount set by the U.S. Census Bureau that varies by family size and age. If a household's income is below that level, everyone in it is included in this rate.

Example: In a town of 10,000 people, if 1,500 have incomes below the poverty line, the poverty rate is 15%.

Note: This statistic only includes people living in households; it does not count those in student housing, military barracks, or nursing homes.

🏘️ Renter vs. Owner Households in Black Hawk County, IA

In Black Hawk County, IA, households that rent: 18,424 (33.8%)

📊 What does the renter household percentage reveal about this area?

Household Type	Count	Share
Renter-Occupied	18,424	33.8%
Owner-Occupied	36,139	66.2%

Definition: This is the percentage of households that rent their home rather than own it. It includes only occupied housing units.

Why it matters: Areas with a high share of renter households often have younger populations, higher mobility, and different housing needs compared to mostly owner-occupied areas.

Example: If 65% of homes in an area are renter-occupied, it means 65 out of every 100 households rent their home.

📉 Renters Spending Over 30% of Income on Rent in Black Hawk County, IA

In Black Hawk County, IA, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 8,570 (46.5%)

🏚️ What Does It Mean When Renters Spend Over 30% of Their Income on Housing?

Household Group	Households	Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%)	8,570	46.5%
Other renter households	9,854	53.5%
Total renter households	18,424	100%

Shares are calculated as a percentage of renter households.

This shows how many renters in this area are considered cost-burdened — meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing (rent and basic utilities).

It’s a sign that housing might be unaffordable in the area or that lower-income residents may be struggling with rent.

Data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

📊 Education Levels in Black Hawk County, IA

Less than High School: 21,594 people (25.9%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 25,322 people (30.4%)

Includes adults whose highest education is a high school diploma or GED.

Some College or Associate Degree: 11,142 people (13.4%)

Includes adults who attended college without completing a bachelor’s degree (some college or associate degree).

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 25,230 people (30.3%)

Includes adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (bachelor’s, master’s, professional, or doctoral degree).

👥 Total Adults (25+): 83,288

📊 Unemployment Rate in Black Hawk County, IA

Estimated Rate: 3.8%

💡 What does Unemployment Rate mean?

Definition: The unemployment rate is the percentage of people in the labor force who do not have a job but are actively looking for one.

Labor Force = Employed + Unemployed (aged 16+ and actively participating in the workforce).

Formula: (Unemployed ÷ Labor Force) × 100

Does NOT include: People who are retired, students not looking for work, homemakers, or otherwise not seeking employment.

Example: If there are 1000 people in the labor force and 80 are unemployed, then the unemployment rate is 8%.

ℹ️ Have questions about how these statistics are calculated? See our data methodology & FAQs

Source: ACS 5-Year Estimates (U.S. Census Bureau) — unemployment rate from BLS. Some values are derived metrics.