Cerro Gordo County, Iowa: commercial real estate data.
Cerro Gordo County, Iowa had an estimated 42,493 residents on July 1, 2024, down 1.5 percent since the 2020 census base of 43,127, across 568 square miles. County output reached $3.73 bn in 2024, 1,357 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 55 7(a) approvals worth $21.0 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Cerro Gordo County
How many people live in Cerro Gordo County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202442,632
- Households19,538
- Average household size2.18
- Median household income$68,189
- Median age44.0
- Median gross rent$850 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$166,400
- Home value to household income2.4 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income15.0 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher24.0 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree7.9 percent
- Adults 25 and over30,683
- Population under 188,861
- Share under 1820.8 percent
- Population 65 and over10,036
- Share 65 and over23.5 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6423,735
- Civilian labor force22,028
- Unemployment rate2.6 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over65.2 percent
- Rank by population among Iowa counties13th of 99
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included1152nd of 3,222
Cerro Gordo County is the 13th largest of 99 Iowa counties by population. A median home costs 2.4 times median household income, which is affordable by national standards. Residents 65 and over outnumber those under 18, at 23.5 percent against 20.8 percent, which points demand at health care, services and single story product rather than schools.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Cerro Gordo County
Is Cerro Gordo County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202442,493
- Census 2020 base population43,127
- Population change since the 2020 census base-1.47 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 202423
- Births, 2024427
- Deaths, 2024506
- Natural change, 2024-79
- Net domestic migration, 2024-26
- Net international migration, 2024129
- Total net migration, 2024103
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 2024-311
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents2351st of 3,144
The county has lost 1.47 percent of its population since the 2020 census base. Deaths exceeded births in 2024 and the population still grew, so all of the growth came from people moving in. A market held up by migration is more sensitive to a change in relative cost than one growing from household formation.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Cerro Gordo County
Where are people moving to Cerro Gordo County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving994
- People arriving, from those returns1,699
- Tax returns filed by households leaving1,054
- Net household movement-60
- Adjusted gross income arriving$67.0 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$2.6 m
- Average income of an arriving household$67,400
- Average income of a leaving household$61,090
- Largest single originWorth County (83 households)
- Largest single destinationPolk County (86 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Worth County | 83 | 125 | $4.1 m |
| Floyd County | 62 | 105 | $2.3 m |
| Hancock County | 55 | 100 | $3.3 m |
| Polk County | 54 | 76 | $3.3 m |
| Winnebago County | 44 | 75 | $1.7 m |
| Franklin County | 39 | 71 | $1.7 m |
| Story County | 21 | 31 | $986,000 |
Households arriving report $6,310 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 Worth 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.
Cerro Gordo County
What is the Cerro Gordo County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$3.73 bn
- County GDP, 2023$3.60 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20243.6 percent
- GDP change over five years42.9 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Iowa areas BEA publishes12th of 99
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes858th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$87,481
Output grew 3.6 percent in the latest year and 42.9 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.
Cerro Gordo County
Employment by industry in Cerro Gordo County
- Covered employment, annual average23,531
- Establishments reporting1,681
- Average annual pay$54,949
- Average weekly wage$1,057
- Health care and social assistance, employment5,113
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$67,068
- Retail trade, employment3,329
- Retail trade, average annual pay$34,769
- Manufacturing, employment2,718
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$61,154
- Accommodation and food services, employment2,043
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$21,242
- Construction, employment1,254
- Wholesale trade, employment1,059
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 5,113 | 202 | $67,068 |
| Retail trade | 3,329 | 210 | $34,769 |
| Manufacturing | 2,718 | 60 | $61,154 |
| Accommodation and food services | 2,043 | 125 | $21,242 |
| Construction | 1,254 | 136 | $75,620 |
| Wholesale trade | 1,059 | 115 | $74,227 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 1,013 | 88 | $40,237 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 805 | 150 | $78,533 |
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 5,113 jobs, 21.7 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Cerro Gordo County
How many businesses are in Cerro Gordo County?
- Establishments, all industries1,357
- Employment at those establishments20,024
- Annual payroll$1.00 bn
- Establishments per 1,000 residents31.8
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.
Cerro Gordo County
Building permits in Cerro Gordo County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 202452
- Declared construction value permitted$20.4 m
- Single family units authorized30
- Multifamily units authorized22
- Multifamily share of units42.3 percent
- Average declared value per unit$392,904
- Units authorized per 1,000 households2.7
Multifamily is 42.3 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is being built for renters rather than buyers.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Cerro Gordo County
SBA loans in Cerro Gordo County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded55
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$21.0 m
- Average 7(a) approval$381,349
- Median 7(a) approval$150,000
- 10th percentile approval$24,000
- 90th percentile approval$947,000
- Largest single approval$4,400,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)407
- Jobs per approval7.4
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active13
- Distinct industries receiving approvals39
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer10.9 percent
- Loans on real estate terms6
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter45
- Franchise loans8
- Franchise share of approvals14.5 percent
- Most active lenderClear Lake Bank & Trust Company (27)
- 504 approvals recorded29
- 504 gross approval dollars$18.2 m
- Average 504 approval$628,138
- Median 504 approval$371,000
- Distinct CDCs active4
- 504 jobs per approval8.2
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved13.1
- Most active CDCIowa Business Growth Company (16)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$39.2 m
The average approval of $381,349 sits well above the median of $150,000, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 10.9 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.
Cerro Gordo County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Cerro Gordo County
Do SBA loans in Cerro Gordo County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded12
- Paid in full12
- Charged off0
- Status: Paid in full12
- Status: Exempt from disclosure41
- Status: Cancelled2
Only 12 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.
Cerro Gordo County
SBA lending by place in Cerro Gordo County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending4
- Mason City, approvals40
- Clear Lake, approvals12
- Rockwell, approvals2
- Thornton, approvals1
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Mason City | 40 | $10,679,400 |
| Clear Lake | 12 | $9,664,800 |
| Rockwell | 2 | $576,000 |
| Thornton | 1 | $54,000 |
Mason City accounts for 40 approvals against 12 in Clear Lake. 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.
Cerro Gordo County
How large is Cerro Gordo County?
- Land area568 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Iowa counties55th of 99
- Width, east to west24 mi
- Height, north to south24 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary5
- Residents per square mile of land75
- Establishments per square mile2.39
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.
Cerro Gordo County
Flood risk in Cerro Gordo County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Cerro Gordo County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 190853
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book12
- Of those, participating in the NFIP10
- NFIP participation rate83.3 percent
- Communities carrying a CRS class0
- Radon levels in Cerro Gordo 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 Cerro Gordo County (community 190853), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries no Community Rating System class, so no CRS premium discount applies there. The EPA places Cerro Gordo 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. 83.3 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 Cerro Gordo 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 Cerro Gordo County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202442,632
- Households19,538
- Average household size2.18
- Median household income$68,189
- Median age44.0
Common questions
Cerro Gordo County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Cerro Gordo County, Iowa?
The Census Bureau estimates 42,493 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 42,632, in 19,538 households, ranking 13th of 99 Iowa counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Cerro Gordo County's population growing?
The population has fallen 1.47 percent since the 2020 census base of 43,127, to 42,493 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 427 births against 506 deaths, with net migration of 103. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Cerro Gordo County?
$68,189. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $166,400, which is 2.4 times income, and median gross rent is $850 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Cerro Gordo County?
1,357 establishments, employing 20,024 people with an annual payroll of $1.00 bn. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Cerro Gordo County?
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 5,113 jobs, 21.7 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 23,531 jobs at an average annual pay of $54,949, or $1,057 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Cerro Gordo County?
55 7(a) approvals totaling $21.0 m since FY2020, across 13 lenders, with a median approval of $150,000, plus 29 504 approvals worth $18.2 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Cerro Gordo County?
52 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $20.4 m. Multifamily was 42.3 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Cerro Gordo 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 Cerro Gordo County come from?
The largest single origin is Worth County, with 83 households. Arriving households report an average income of $67,400 against $61,090 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Cerro Gordo 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 Cerro Gordo 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.
Cerro Gordo County
Cities and places in Cerro Gordo.
12 Census places lie wholly or partly in Cerro Gordo County. All 12 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mason City | city | 27,050 | 40 | Wholly in this county |
| Clear Lake | city | 7,607 | 12 | Wholly in this county |
| Rockwell | city | 986 | 2 | Wholly in this county |
| Ventura | city | 733 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Thornton | city | 514 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Plymouth | city | 407 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Meservey | city | 262 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Swaledale | city | 148 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Rock Falls | city | 119 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Dougherty | city | 88 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Portland | CDP | 29 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Burchinal | CDP | 6 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
Nearby