Dallas County, Iowa: commercial real estate data.
Dallas County, Iowa had an estimated 115,343 residents on July 1, 2024, up 15.6 percent since the 2020 census base of 99,735, across 588 square miles. County output reached $11.11 bn in 2024, 2,521 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 106 7(a) approvals worth $40.7 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Dallas County
How many people live in Dallas County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024107,968
- Households42,471
- Average household size2.54
- Median household income$102,379
- Median age36.1
- Median gross rent$1,311 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$355,600
- Home value to household income3.5 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income15.4 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher51.5 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree17.7 percent
- Adults 25 and over71,218
- Population under 1828,676
- Share under 1826.6 percent
- Population 65 and over13,893
- Share 65 and over12.9 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6465,399
- Civilian labor force61,013
- Unemployment rate2.3 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over76.9 percent
- Rank by population among Iowa counties6th of 99
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included581st of 3,222
Dallas County is the 6th largest of 99 Iowa counties by population. A median home costs 3.5 times median household income, which is moderately unaffordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 26.6 percent against 12.9 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Dallas County
Is Dallas County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 2024115,343
- Census 2020 base population99,735
- Population change since the 2020 census base15.65 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 20243,750
- Births, 20241,387
- Deaths, 2024651
- Natural change, 2024736
- Net domestic migration, 20242,079
- Net international migration, 2024919
- Total net migration, 20242,998
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 20249,563
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents49th of 3,144
The county has grown 15.65 percent since the 2020 census base. The population grew in 2024 from both sources: births exceeded deaths and more people moved in than left.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Dallas County
Where are people moving to Dallas County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving5,343
- People arriving, from those returns9,213
- Tax returns filed by households leaving4,336
- Net household movement1,007
- Adjusted gross income arriving$424.9 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$47.8 m
- Average income of an arriving household$79,519
- Average income of a leaving household$86,958
- Largest single originPolk County (2,575 households)
- Largest single destinationPolk County (2,107 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Polk County | 2,575 | 4,456 | $212.2 m |
| Warren County | 145 | 266 | $12.5 m |
| Story County | 138 | 188 | $6.2 m |
| Madison County | 88 | 155 | $6.1 m |
| Johnson County | 77 | 98 | $4.6 m |
| Guthrie County | 62 | 114 | $3.4 m |
| Maricopa County | 61 | 112 | $5.0 m |
| Linn County | 58 | 104 | $5.4 m |
Households arriving report $7,439 less average income than households leaving, which drains spending power even where headcount holds up. The largest single source of arrivals is Polk 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.
Dallas County
What is the Dallas County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$11.11 bn
- County GDP, 2023$10.34 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20247.4 percent
- GDP change over five years57.7 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Iowa areas BEA publishes5th of 99
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes408th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$102,869
Output grew 7.4 percent in the latest year and 57.7 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.
Dallas County
Employment by industry in Dallas County
- Covered employment, annual average55,258
- Establishments reporting3,600
- Average annual pay$76,316
- Average weekly wage$1,468
- Finance and insurance, employment16,713
- Finance and insurance, average annual pay$122,978
- Retail trade, employment7,365
- Retail trade, average annual pay$33,974
- Health care and social assistance, employment6,021
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$70,191
- Accommodation and food services, employment4,597
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$25,990
- Professional, scientific and technical services, employment2,102
- Administrative and support and waste management services, employment1,964
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Finance and insurance | 16,713 | 378 | $122,978 |
| Retail trade | 7,365 | 309 | $33,974 |
| Health care and social assistance | 6,021 | 373 | $70,191 |
| Accommodation and food services | 4,597 | 218 | $25,990 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 2,102 | 596 | $92,824 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 1,964 | 214 | $53,736 |
| Construction | 1,832 | 256 | $64,797 |
| Manufacturing | 1,578 | 67 | $72,488 |
Finance and insurance is the largest private sector at 16,713 jobs, 30.2 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Dallas County
How many businesses are in Dallas County?
- Establishments, all industries2,521
- Employment at those establishments46,640
- Annual payroll$3.29 bn
- Establishments per 1,000 residents23.3
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.
Dallas County
Building permits in Dallas County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 20241,513
- Declared construction value permitted$405.9 m
- Single family units authorized883
- Multifamily units authorized630
- Multifamily share of units41.6 percent
- Average declared value per unit$268,303
- Units authorized per 1,000 households35.6
Multifamily is 41.6 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is being built for renters rather than buyers.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Dallas County
SBA loans in Dallas County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded106
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$40.7 m
- Average 7(a) approval$383,607
- Median 7(a) approval$231,000
- 10th percentile approval$32,500
- 90th percentile approval$947,650
- Largest single approval$2,814,500
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)1,186
- Jobs per approval11.2
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active43
- Distinct industries receiving approvals55
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer6.6 percent
- Loans on real estate terms7
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter82
- Franchise loans24
- Franchise share of approvals22.6 percent
- Leading industry by approval countOffices of Chiropractors (8)
- 504 approvals recorded48
- 504 gross approval dollars$44.3 m
- Average 504 approval$922,875
- Median 504 approval$678,500
- Distinct CDCs active6
- 504 jobs per approval12.6
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved13.6
- Most active CDCIowa Business Growth Company (37)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$85.0 m
The average approval of $383,607 sits well above the median of $231,000, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 6.6 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.
Dallas County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Dallas County
Do SBA loans in Dallas County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded18
- Paid in full17
- Charged off1
- Status: Exempt from disclosure73
- Status: Cancelled9
- Status: Paid in full17
- Status: Charged off1
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed6
Only 18 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.
Dallas County
SBA lending by place in Dallas County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending16
- Waukee, approvals44
- West Des Moines, approvals19
- Adel, approvals13
- Perry, approvals8
- Urbandale, approvals7
- Clive, approvals3
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Waukee | 44 | $21,007,200 |
| West Des Moines | 19 | $7,953,600 |
| Adel | 13 | $4,267,000 |
| Perry | 8 | $2,802,600 |
| Urbandale | 7 | $984,900 |
| Clive | 3 | $691,000 |
| Dallas Center | 2 | $1,250,000 |
| Van Meter | 2 | $500,000 |
| 8 other borrower cities | 8 | $1,206,000 |
Waukee accounts for 44 approvals against 19 in West Des Moines. 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.
Dallas County
How large is Dallas County?
- Land area588 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Iowa counties24th of 99
- Width, east to west25.3 mi
- Height, north to south24.9 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary5
- Residents per square mile of land184
- Establishments per square mile4.29
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.
Dallas County
Flood risk in Dallas County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Dallas County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 190860
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book15
- Of those, participating in the NFIP14
- NFIP participation rate93.3 percent
- Best Community Rating System class in the county A lower CRS class is a larger flood insurance premium discount.Class 4
- Communities carrying a CRS class2
- Radon levels in Dallas 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 Dallas County (community 190860), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries no Community Rating System class, so no CRS premium discount applies there. The EPA places Dallas 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. The best Community Rating System class among the county's communities is 4, which carries a flood insurance premium discount for policies written in that community. 93.3 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 Dallas 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 Dallas County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024107,968
- Households42,471
- Average household size2.54
- Median household income$102,379
- Median age36.1
Common questions
Dallas County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Dallas County, Iowa?
The Census Bureau estimates 115,343 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 107,968, in 42,471 households, ranking 6th of 99 Iowa counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Dallas County's population growing?
The population has grown 15.65 percent since the 2020 census base of 99,735, to 115,343 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 1,387 births against 651 deaths, with net migration of 2,998. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Dallas County?
$102,379. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $355,600, which is 3.5 times income, and median gross rent is $1,311 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Dallas County?
2,521 establishments, employing 46,640 people with an annual payroll of $3.29 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 Dallas County?
Finance and insurance is the largest private sector at 16,713 jobs, 30.2 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 55,258 jobs at an average annual pay of $76,316, or $1,468 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Dallas County?
106 7(a) approvals totaling $40.7 m since FY2020, across 43 lenders, with a median approval of $231,000, plus 48 504 approvals worth $44.3 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Dallas County?
1,513 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $405.9 m. Multifamily was 41.6 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Dallas 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 Dallas County come from?
The largest single origin is Polk County, with 2,575 households. Arriving households report an average income of $79,519 against $86,958 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Dallas 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 Dallas 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.
Dallas County
Cities and places in Dallas.
18 Census places lie wholly or partly in Dallas County. All 18 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Des Moines | city | 71,083 | 19 | 40.2 percent here, 54.2 percent Polk County, 4.1 percent Warren County |
| Urbandale | city | 46,595 | 7 | 32.5 percent here, 67.5 percent Polk County |
| Waukee | city | 29,236 | 44 | Wholly in this county |
| Clive | city | 19,012 | 3 | 38.8 percent here, 61.2 percent Polk County |
| Grimes | city | 16,366 | None recorded | 15.9 percent here, 84.1 percent Polk County |
| Perry | city | 7,985 | 8 | Wholly in this county |
| Adel | city | 6,430 | 13 | Wholly in this county |
| Dallas Center | city | 2,161 | 2 | Wholly in this county |
| Granger | city | 1,979 | 1 | 55.6 percent here, 44.4 percent Polk County |
| Van Meter | city | 1,628 | 2 | Wholly in this county |
| De Soto | city | 1,041 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Woodward | city | 977 | 1 | 65.9 percent here, 34.1 percent Boone County |
| Redfield | city | 780 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Dexter | city | 620 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Minburn | city | 354 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Bouton | city | 168 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Linden | city | 150 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Dawson | city | 102 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
A further 3 of the county's 106 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Dallas County, the largest being Earlham (1), Des Moines (1), Cumming (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