Louisa
Iowa

What stands out

If you had to describe Louisa County in numbers, start here: the home price against local income is in the bottom 11% of American counties (1.5 years of income), population growth is in the bottom 11% of American counties (-1.0% a year), and the share working from home is in the bottom 14% of American counties (4%). Within Iowa it ranks 30th of 99 counties for the home price against local income, counting from the bottom.

Where you are

You live in Louisa County, Iowa. 10,823 people live here with you. The population shrank 1.0% last year, and more Americans moved out than in (net -149).

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 $72,500 a year, higher than 79% of American counties. Employers pay an average wage of $52,348. Unemployment runs 3.1%, lower than 62% of American counties. 4% of workers work from home; for the rest the average commute is 22 minutes each way.

Iowa takes 3.8% of that median income in state income tax, about $2,755 a year.

Home

The median home costs $172K, cheaper than 75% of American counties, about 1.5 years of the median household's income. A two-bedroom rents for around $701 a month. Property tax is 1.36% of home value, roughly $1,703 a year on that median home, higher than 80% of American counties. 78% of households own rather than rent.

Safety and health

Violent crime here is 3.5 per 1,000 residents, lower than 72% of American counties. Drug overdoses killed 11 people per 100,000 in 2024.

A child born here can expect to live 77.7 years, longer than 72% of American counties. There are 3 active physicians in the county, about 2.8 per 10,000 people. 8.4% of people under 65 have no health insurance.

School

Local students test at grade level 2.91 where 3.0 is national grade level, lower than 58% of American counties. 86% of adults finished high school.

Neighbors and politics

In 2024 your neighbors voted Republican by 33 points. 67% 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 52°F, highs near 63 and lows near 41, colder than 66% of American counties. About 34 inches of rain and snow fall a year. FEMA puts natural-hazard risk at 50 out of 100, riskier than 50% of American counties; the county has had 20 federal disaster declarations since 1953.

Getting around, going out

Home internet averages 150 Mbps down, slower than 71% of American counties. For a night or a weekend out: 0.7 full-service restaurants per 1,000 people.