Your life in Dickinson County, Iowa

What stands out

Three things set Dickinson County apart from the other 3,142 counties: high-school completion is in the top 2% of American counties (97%), violent crime is in the bottom 3% of American counties (2.8 per 1,000), and the restaurant count per person is in the top 3% of American counties (1.9 per 1,000). Within Iowa it ranks 3rd of 99 counties for high-school completion.

Where you are

You live in Dickinson County, Iowa. 17,692 people live here with you. The population held steady at 0.0% last year, and more Americans moved in than out (net +56).

Iowa cut its income tax to a flat 3.8% in 2025 and stopped taxing retirement income for residents 55 and over in 2023, including pensions, 401(k) and IRA withdrawals. It still has an inheritance tax, but that is being phased out and ends for deaths after 2024. Winters are long and the state's economy still moves with corn, soybean and hog prices.

Money

The typical household here brings in $72,446 a year, higher than 79% of American counties. Employers pay an average wage of $46,626. Unemployment runs 2.8%, lower than 73% of American counties. 9% of workers work from home; for the rest the average commute is 15 minutes each way.

Iowa takes 3.8% of that median income in state income tax, about $2,753 a year.

Home

The median home costs $385K, pricier than 84% of American counties, about 2.5 years of the median household's income. A two-bedroom rents for around $952 a month. Property tax is 1.00% of home value, roughly $2,363 a year on that median home, higher than 60% of American counties. 78% of households own rather than rent.

Safety and health

Violent crime here is 2.8 per 1,000 residents, lower than 97% of American counties. Drug overdoses killed 7 people per 100,000 in 2024.

A child born here can expect to live 80.7 years, longer than 94% of American counties. There are 26 active physicians in the county, about 14.7 per 10,000 people. Medicare rates the local hospitals 2.0 of 5 stars. 5.3% of people under 65 have no health insurance.

School

Local students test at grade level 3.19 where 3.0 is national grade level, higher than 65% of American counties. 97% of adults finished high school.

Neighbors and politics

In 2024 your neighbors voted Republican by 34 points. 82% of eligible voters turned out. Under Iowa law you can carry a concealed handgun without a permit, abortion is banned with narrow exceptions, and marijuana is medical only.

Weather and risk

The year averages 47°F, highs near 58 and lows near 36, colder than 84% of American counties. About 30 inches of rain and snow fall a year. FEMA puts natural-hazard risk at 44 out of 100, safer than 56% of American counties; the county has had 18 federal disaster declarations since 1953.

Getting around, going out

Home internet averages 220 Mbps down, faster than 59% of American counties. There are 2 airports in the county, counting general aviation. For a night or a weekend out: 1.9 full-service restaurants per 1,000 people, 2 breweries, 5 museums.

Where these numbers come from

• BLS QCEW 2024
• CDC 2024
• CMS 2024
• Census 2023
• Census ACS
• Census ACS 2022
• Census Population Estimates 2023
• Census SAHIE 2024
• County Health Rankings 2024
• Derived from ACS 2022 home value / household income
• FAA Airport Database
• FEMA Disaster Declarations 1953–2026
• FEMA National Risk Index 2023 (0–100, all hazards)
• HRSA Area Health Resources File 2023
• IMLS
• NOAA Climate Normals
• National Park Service
• Ookla Speedtest Intelligence
• Open Brewery DB
• OpenElections 2024
• SEDA via County Health Rankings 2024 (3.0 = at grade level; not a Z-score)
• Tax Foundation 2023
• USDA Food Environment Atlas
• Zillow ZHVI 2024
• Iowa tax and law data: state revenue department, Tax Foundation, Giffords, Guttmacher (2026)

Percentiles compare this county with every other county that reports the same figure. Missing figures are left out rather than guessed. Share this page: the address is permanent.