Cedar County, Iowa: commercial real estate data.
Cedar County, Iowa had an estimated 18,231 residents on July 1, 2024, down 1.4 percent since the 2020 census base of 18,487, across 579 square miles. County output reached $811.5 m in 2024, 460 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 20 7(a) approvals worth $5.2 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Cedar County
How many people live in Cedar County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202418,349
- Households7,622
- Average household size2.41
- Median household income$80,602
- Median age44.0
- Median gross rent$879 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$211,300
- Home value to household income2.6 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income13.1 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher23.7 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree5.8 percent
- Adults 25 and over13,222
- Population under 183,875
- Share under 1821.1 percent
- Population 65 and over3,859
- Share 65 and over21.0 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6410,615
- Civilian labor force9,680
- Unemployment rate2.3 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over66.9 percent
- Rank by population among Iowa counties38th of 99
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included1972nd of 3,222
Cedar County is the 38th largest of 99 Iowa counties by population. A median home costs 2.6 times median household income, which is affordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 21.1 percent against 21.0 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Cedar County
Is Cedar County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202418,231
- Census 2020 base population18,487
- Population change since the 2020 census base-1.38 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024-38
- Births, 2024151
- Deaths, 2024217
- Natural change, 2024-66
- Net domestic migration, 20240
- Net international migration, 202429
- Total net migration, 202429
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 2024-38
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents2320th of 3,144
The county has lost 1.38 percent of its population since the 2020 census base. Deaths exceeded births in 2024 by more than net migration added, so the population fell even though more people moved in than left.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Cedar County
Where are people moving to Cedar County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving541
- People arriving, from those returns964
- Tax returns filed by households leaving513
- Net household movement28
- Adjusted gross income arriving$32.2 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$6.0 m
- Average income of an arriving household$59,457
- Average income of a leaving household$51,045
- Largest single originJohnson County (110 households)
- Largest single destinationJohnson County (89 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Johnson County | 110 | 191 | $7.2 m |
| Linn County | 76 | 131 | $4.5 m |
| Muscatine County | 76 | 139 | $4.5 m |
| Scott County | 49 | 97 | $2.8 m |
| Jones County | 21 | 44 | $945,000 |
Households arriving report $8,412 more average income than households leaving, so the migration is raising local spending power rather than just moving it around. The largest single source of arrivals is Johnson County, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Cedar County
What is the Cedar County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$811.5 m
- County GDP, 2023$820.7 m
- GDP change, 2023 to 2024-1.1 percent
- GDP change over five years35.7 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Iowa areas BEA publishes61st of 99
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes2018th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$44,225
Output grew -1.1 percent in the latest year and 35.7 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
Cedar County
Employment by industry in Cedar County
- Covered employment, annual average5,170
- Establishments reporting588
- Average annual pay$49,261
- Average weekly wage$947
- Manufacturing, employment600
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$58,582
- Retail trade, employment592
- Retail trade, average annual pay$30,972
- Wholesale trade, employment455
- Wholesale trade, average annual pay$72,559
- Construction, employment292
- Construction, average annual pay$55,666
- Accommodation and food services, employment219
- Professional, scientific and technical services, employment194
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 600 | 30 | $58,582 |
| Retail trade | 592 | 50 | $30,972 |
| Wholesale trade | 455 | 42 | $72,559 |
| Construction | 292 | 66 | $55,666 |
| Accommodation and food services | 219 | 25 | $16,846 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 194 | 47 | $57,689 |
| Other services, except public administration | 148 | 42 | $39,346 |
| Finance and insurance | 105 | 32 | $67,405 |
Manufacturing is the largest private sector at 600 jobs, 11.6 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Cedar County
How many businesses are in Cedar County?
- Establishments, all industries460
- Employment at those establishments4,355
- Annual payroll$199.3 m
- Establishments per 1,000 residents25.1
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against. County Business Patterns counts private establishments with paid employees in March 2023, while the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages above counts every unemployment-insured employer, public ones included, as a 2024 annual average, so the two establishment and employment counts differ.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Cedar County
Building permits in Cedar County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 202449
- Declared construction value permitted$13.7 m
- Single family units authorized20
- Multifamily units authorized29
- Multifamily share of units59.2 percent
- Average declared value per unit$279,338
- Units authorized per 1,000 households6.4
Multifamily is 59.2 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is being built for renters rather than buyers.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Cedar County
SBA loans in Cedar County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded20
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$5.2 m
- Average 7(a) approval$259,400
- Median 7(a) approval$137,500
- 10th percentile approval$15,000
- 90th percentile approval$624,750
- Largest single approval$1,550,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)77
- Jobs per approval3.9
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active13
- Distinct industries receiving approvals13
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer10.0 percent
- Loans on real estate terms2
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter16
- Franchise loans1
- Franchise share of approvals5.0 percent
- Leading industry by approval countFull-Service Restaurants (5)
- Most active lenderNewtek Bank, National Association (4)
- 504 approvals recorded4
- 504 gross approval dollars$1.0 m
- Average 504 approval$256,500
- Median 504 approval$189,000
- Distinct CDCs active3
- 504 jobs per approval6.3
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved24.4
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$6.2 m
The average approval of $259,400 sits well above the median of $137,500, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 10.0 percent of approvals run on real estate terms, so SBA credit here is mostly working capital and equipment rather than property acquisition.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Cedar County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Cedar County
Do SBA loans in Cedar County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded7
- Paid in full7
- Charged off0
- Status: Paid in full7
- Status: Exempt from disclosure9
- Status: Cancelled3
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed1
Only 7 loans have reached a final outcome, fewer than the 30 a charge-off rate needs, so no rate is published.
Compare against the national and state SBA charge-off rates, computed the same way over resolved loans only.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Cedar County
SBA lending by place in Cedar County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending7
- Clarence, approvals5
- West Branch, approvals4
- Durant, approvals3
- Mechanicsville, approvals3
- Tipton, approvals3
- Bennett, approvals1
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Clarence | 5 | $850,000 |
| West Branch | 4 | $1,008,500 |
| Durant | 3 | $1,865,000 |
| Mechanicsville | 3 | $992,500 |
| Tipton | 3 | $294,000 |
| Bennett | 1 | $108,000 |
| Lisbon | 1 | $70,000 |
Clarence accounts for 5 approvals against 4 in West Branch. County level figures average over that gap, which is why a site decision is made at the submarket rather than the county.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Cedar County
How large is Cedar County?
- Land area579 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Iowa counties31st of 99
- Width, east to west24.1 mi
- Height, north to south24.2 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary6
- Residents per square mile of land32
- Establishments per square mile0.79
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Cedar County
Flood risk in Cedar County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Cedar County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 190050
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book9
- Of those, participating in the NFIP9
- NFIP participation rate100.0 percent
- Communities carrying a CRS class0
- Radon levels in Cedar County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/LZone 1
The county's own community in the status book, unincorporated Cedar County (community 190050), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries no Community Rating System class, so no CRS premium discount applies there. The EPA places Cedar County in radon zone 1, a predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. 100.0 percent of the county's listed communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, per Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26. US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Traffic counts, zoning and the flood zone at an address are not on this page; they resolve at the address in the platform. How this page was built →
Feasibility studies
When a Cedar County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a Cedar County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202418,349
- Households7,622
- Average household size2.41
- Median household income$80,602
- Median age44.0
Common questions
Cedar County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Cedar County, Iowa?
The Census Bureau estimates 18,231 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 18,349, in 7,622 households, ranking 38th of 99 Iowa counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Cedar County's population growing?
The population has fallen 1.38 percent since the 2020 census base of 18,487, to 18,231 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 151 births against 217 deaths, with net migration of 29. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Cedar County?
$80,602. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $211,300, which is 2.6 times income, and median gross rent is $879 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Cedar County?
460 establishments, employing 4,355 people with an annual payroll of $199.3 m. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Cedar County?
Manufacturing is the largest private sector at 600 jobs, 11.6 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 5,170 jobs at an average annual pay of $49,261, or $947 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Cedar County?
20 7(a) approvals totaling $5.2 m since FY2020, across 13 lenders, with a median approval of $137,500, plus 4 504 approvals worth $1.0 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Cedar County?
49 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $13.7 m. Multifamily was 59.2 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Cedar County?
Zone 1, a predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Cedar County come from?
The largest single origin is Johnson County, with 110 households. Arriving households report an average income of $59,457 against $51,045 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Cedar County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for Cedar County?
No. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame, to be confirmed locally.
Cedar County
Cities and places in Cedar.
10 Census places lie wholly or partly in Cedar County. All 10 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tipton | city | 3,106 | 3 | Wholly in this county |
| West Branch | city | 2,594 | 4 | Wholly in this county |
| Durant | city | 1,946 | 3 | 85.1 percent here, 9.8 percent Scott County, 5.2 percent Muscatine County |
| Clarence | city | 1,166 | 5 | Wholly in this county |
| Mechanicsville | city | 964 | 3 | Wholly in this county |
| Lowden | city | 699 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Stanwood | city | 533 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Bennett | city | 390 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Rochester | CDP | 90 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Downey | CDP | 59 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
A further 1 of the county's 20 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Cedar County, the largest being Lisbon (1). Those are postal cities, unincorporated areas and cities outside the county, so no place row claims them; they are counted in the county total above.
Nearby