Fayette County, Iowa: commercial real estate data.
Fayette County, Iowa had an estimated 19,152 residents on July 1, 2024, down 1.9 percent since the 2020 census base of 19,513, across 731 square miles. County output reached $1.07 bn in 2024, 524 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 8 7(a) approvals worth $1.1 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Fayette County
How many people live in Fayette County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202419,288
- Households8,342
- Average household size2.31
- Median household income$60,165
- Median age43.9
- Median gross rent$881 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$136,800
- Home value to household income2.3 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income17.6 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher20.7 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree6.0 percent
- Adults 25 and over13,485
- Population under 184,123
- Share under 1821.4 percent
- Population 65 and over4,424
- Share 65 and over22.9 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6410,741
- Civilian labor force9,461
- Unemployment rate3.2 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over62.4 percent
- Rank by population among Iowa counties36th of 99
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included1924th of 3,222
Fayette County is the 36th largest of 99 Iowa counties by population. A median home costs 2.3 times median household income, which is affordable by national standards. Residents 65 and over outnumber those under 18, at 22.9 percent against 21.4 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.
Fayette County
Is Fayette County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202419,152
- Census 2020 base population19,513
- Population change since the 2020 census base-1.85 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024-87
- Births, 2024213
- Deaths, 2024238
- Natural change, 2024-25
- Net domestic migration, 2024-97
- Net international migration, 202436
- Total net migration, 2024-61
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 2024-176
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents2461st of 3,144
The county has lost 1.85 percent of its population since the 2020 census base. The population fell in 2024 from both sources: deaths exceeded births and more people left than moved in.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Fayette County
Where are people moving to Fayette County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving444
- People arriving, from those returns840
- Tax returns filed by households leaving454
- Net household movement-10
- Adjusted gross income arriving$21.4 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$-448,000
- Average income of an arriving household$48,126
- Average income of a leaving household$48,053
- Largest single originBuchanan County (56 households)
- Largest single destinationBuchanan County (63 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buchanan County | 56 | 117 | $2.5 m |
| Black Hawk County | 39 | 57 | $2.0 m |
| Clayton County | 30 | 56 | $1.3 m |
| Bremer County | 26 | 59 | $1.8 m |
| Allamakee County | 22 | 44 | $801,000 |
| Winneshiek County | 21 | 30 | $1.0 m |
Households arriving report $73 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 Buchanan 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.
Fayette County
What is the Fayette County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$1.07 bn
- County GDP, 2023$1.01 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20246.7 percent
- GDP change over five years42.7 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Iowa areas BEA publishes51st of 99
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes1789th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$55,734
Output grew 6.7 percent in the latest year and 42.7 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.
Fayette County
Employment by industry in Fayette County
- Covered employment, annual average6,964
- Establishments reporting680
- Average annual pay$48,847
- Average weekly wage$939
- Manufacturing, employment907
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$65,726
- Retail trade, employment765
- Retail trade, average annual pay$27,827
- Accommodation and food services, employment418
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$13,823
- Construction, employment394
- Construction, average annual pay$73,312
- Wholesale trade, employment385
- Other services, except public administration, employment236
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 907 | 24 | $65,726 |
| Retail trade | 765 | 76 | $27,827 |
| Accommodation and food services | 418 | 43 | $13,823 |
| Construction | 394 | 59 | $73,312 |
| Wholesale trade | 385 | 52 | $67,669 |
| Other services, except public administration | 236 | 42 | $45,769 |
| Finance and insurance | 180 | 51 | $58,205 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 114 | 23 | $44,327 |
Manufacturing is the largest private sector at 907 jobs, 13.0 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Fayette County
How many businesses are in Fayette County?
- Establishments, all industries524
- Employment at those establishments5,706
- Annual payroll$259.0 m
- Establishments per 1,000 residents27.2
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.
Fayette County
Building permits in Fayette County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 202411
- Declared construction value permitted$3.3 m
- Single family units authorized9
- Multifamily units authorized2
- Multifamily share of units18.2 percent
- Average declared value per unit$300,772
- Units authorized per 1,000 households1.3
Single-family homes are 81.8 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Fayette County
SBA loans in Fayette County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded8
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$1.1 m
- Average 7(a) approval$136,538
- Median 7(a) approval$153,250
- Largest single approval$275,700
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)57
- Jobs per approval7.1
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active6
- Distinct industries receiving approvals7
- Median 7(a) term102 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer12.5 percent
- Loans on real estate terms1
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter7
- Franchise loans1
- Franchise share of approvals12.5 percent
- Most active lenderBank Iowa (3)
- 504 approvals recorded10
- 504 gross approval dollars$3.1 m
- Average 504 approval$308,900
- Median 504 approval$264,000
- Distinct CDCs active3
- 504 jobs per approval6.0
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved19.4
- Most active CDCIowa Business Growth Company (5)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$4.2 m
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.
Fayette County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Fayette County
Do SBA loans in Fayette County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded1
- Paid in full1
- Charged off0
- Status: Cancelled1
- Status: Paid in full1
- Status: Exempt from disclosure6
Only 1 loan has 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.
Fayette County
SBA lending by place in Fayette County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending5
- Oelwein, approvals3
- West Union, approvals2
- Oewlein, approvals1
- Clermont, approvals1
- Waucoma, approvals1
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Oelwein | 3 | $254,000 |
| West Union | 2 | $348,000 |
| Oewlein | 1 | $275,700 |
| Clermont | 1 | $180,000 |
| Waucoma | 1 | $34,600 |
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Fayette County
How large is Fayette County?
- Land area731 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Iowa counties7th of 99
- Width, east to west24.2 mi
- Height, north to south30.4 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary5
- Residents per square mile of land26
- Establishments per square mile0.72
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.
Fayette County
Flood risk in Fayette County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Fayette County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 190866
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book15
- Of those, participating in the NFIP10
- NFIP participation rate66.7 percent
- Communities carrying a CRS class0
- Radon levels in Fayette 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 Fayette County (community 190866), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries no Community Rating System class, so no CRS premium discount applies there. The EPA places Fayette 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. 66.7 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 Fayette 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 Fayette County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202419,288
- Households8,342
- Average household size2.31
- Median household income$60,165
- Median age43.9
Common questions
Fayette County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Fayette County, Iowa?
The Census Bureau estimates 19,152 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 19,288, in 8,342 households, ranking 36th of 99 Iowa counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Fayette County's population growing?
The population has fallen 1.85 percent since the 2020 census base of 19,513, to 19,152 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 213 births against 238 deaths, with net migration of -61. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Fayette County?
$60,165. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $136,800, which is 2.3 times income, and median gross rent is $881 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Fayette County?
524 establishments, employing 5,706 people with an annual payroll of $259.0 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 Fayette County?
Manufacturing is the largest private sector at 907 jobs, 13.0 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 6,964 jobs at an average annual pay of $48,847, or $939 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Fayette County?
8 7(a) approvals totaling $1.1 m since FY2020, across 6 lenders, with a median approval of $153,250, plus 10 504 approvals worth $3.1 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Fayette County?
11 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $3.3 m. Multifamily was 18.2 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Fayette 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 Fayette County come from?
The largest single origin is Buchanan County, with 56 households. Arriving households report an average income of $48,126 against $48,053 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Fayette 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 Fayette 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.
Fayette County
Cities and places in Fayette.
16 Census places lie wholly or partly in Fayette County. All 16 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oelwein | city | 5,834 | 3 | Wholly in this county |
| West Union | city | 2,489 | 2 | Wholly in this county |
| Sumner | city | 2,106 | None recorded | 3.4 percent here, 96.6 percent Bremer County |
| Fayette | city | 1,309 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Fairbank | city | 1,275 | None recorded | 30.2 percent here, 69.8 percent Buchanan County |
| Elgin | city | 735 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Clermont | city | 627 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Hawkeye | city | 482 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Maynard | city | 471 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Arlington | city | 427 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Waucoma | city | 291 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Westgate | city | 178 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Wadena | city | 177 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| St. Lucas | city | 154 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Stanley | city | 69 | None recorded | 6.2 percent here, 93.8 percent Buchanan County |
| Randalia | city | 60 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
A further 1 of the county's 8 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Fayette County, the largest being Oewlein (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