Hamilton County, Iowa: commercial real estate data.
Hamilton County, Iowa had an estimated 14,856 residents on July 1, 2024, down 1.2 percent since the 2020 census base of 15,039, across 577 square miles. County output reached $1.12 bn in 2024, 367 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 7 7(a) approvals worth $5.9 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Hamilton County
How many people live in Hamilton County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202414,886
- Households6,434
- Average household size2.31
- Median household income$72,432
- Median age41.7
- Median gross rent$877 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$156,400
- Home value to household income2.2 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income14.5 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher22.8 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree6.7 percent
- Adults 25 and over10,339
- Population under 183,547
- Share under 1823.8 percent
- Population 65 and over3,157
- Share 65 and over21.2 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 648,182
- Civilian labor force7,713
- Unemployment rate4.8 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over68.0 percent
- Rank by population among Iowa counties51st of 99
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included2168th of 3,222
Hamilton County is the 51st largest of 99 Iowa counties by population. A median home costs 2.2 times median household income, which is affordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 23.8 percent against 21.2 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Hamilton County
Is Hamilton County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202414,856
- Census 2020 base population15,039
- Population change since the 2020 census base-1.22 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 20248
- Births, 2024187
- Deaths, 2024192
- Natural change, 2024-5
- Net domestic migration, 2024-97
- Net international migration, 2024111
- Total net migration, 202414
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 2024-308
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents2268th of 3,144
The county has lost 1.22 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.
Hamilton County
Where are people moving to Hamilton County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving349
- People arriving, from those returns630
- Tax returns filed by households leaving395
- Net household movement-46
- Adjusted gross income arriving$18.8 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$-3.3 m
- Average income of an arriving household$53,986
- Average income of a leaving household$56,111
- Largest single originStory County (61 households)
- Largest single destinationStory County (61 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Story County | 61 | 107 | $3.8 m |
| Webster County | 39 | 76 | $1.5 m |
| Polk County | 31 | 54 | $1.9 m |
| Wright County | 23 | 38 | $1.9 m |
| Boone County | 21 | 41 | $1.3 m |
Households arriving report $2,125 less average income than households leaving, which drains spending power even where headcount holds up. The largest single source of arrivals is Story 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.
Hamilton County
What is the Hamilton County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$1.12 bn
- County GDP, 2023$1.05 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20246.3 percent
- GDP change over five years59.6 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Iowa areas BEA publishes47th of 99
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes1752nd of 3,127
- GDP per resident$75,003
Output grew 6.3 percent in the latest year and 59.6 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.
Hamilton County
Employment by industry in Hamilton County
- Covered employment, annual average5,798
- Establishments reporting487
- Average annual pay$52,922
- Average weekly wage$1,018
- Manufacturing, employment837
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$62,530
- Retail trade, employment736
- Retail trade, average annual pay$32,852
- Wholesale trade, employment615
- Wholesale trade, average annual pay$94,502
- Construction, employment303
- Construction, average annual pay$54,131
- Accommodation and food services, employment271
- Finance and insurance, employment190
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 837 | 28 | $62,530 |
| Retail trade | 736 | 54 | $32,852 |
| Wholesale trade | 615 | 38 | $94,502 |
| Construction | 303 | 48 | $54,131 |
| Accommodation and food services | 271 | 27 | $15,790 |
| Finance and insurance | 190 | 24 | $83,054 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 121 | 24 | $41,876 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 97 | 29 | $86,780 |
Manufacturing is the largest private sector at 837 jobs, 14.4 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Hamilton County
How many businesses are in Hamilton County?
- Establishments, all industries367
- Employment at those establishments4,559
- Annual payroll$248.8 m
- Establishments per 1,000 residents24.7
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.
Hamilton County
Building permits in Hamilton County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 20249
- Declared construction value permitted$1.8 m
- Single family units authorized4
- Multifamily units authorized5
- Multifamily share of units55.6 percent
- Average declared value per unit$204,167
- Units authorized per 1,000 households1.4
Multifamily is 55.6 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is being built for renters rather than buyers.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Hamilton County
SBA loans in Hamilton County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded7
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$5.9 m
- Average 7(a) approval$848,343
- Median 7(a) approval$337,500
- Largest single approval$3,440,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)148
- Jobs per approval21.1
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active5
- Distinct industries receiving approvals6
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer14.3 percent
- Loans on real estate terms1
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter5
- Franchise loans1
- Franchise share of approvals14.3 percent
- Most active lenderAvaila Bank (3)
- 504 approvals recorded1
- 504 gross approval dollars$305,000
- Average 504 approval$305,000
- Median 504 approval$305,000
- Distinct CDCs active1
- 504 jobs per approval0.0
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved0.0
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$6.2 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.
Hamilton County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Hamilton County
Do SBA loans in Hamilton County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded2
- Paid in full2
- Charged off0
- Status: Paid in full2
- Status: Exempt from disclosure5
Only 2 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.
Hamilton County
SBA lending by place in Hamilton County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending3
- Webster City, approvals5
- Kamrar, approvals1
- Ellsworth, approvals1
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Webster City | 5 | $5,450,900 |
| Kamrar | 1 | $337,500 |
| Ellsworth | 1 | $150,000 |
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Hamilton County
How large is Hamilton County?
- Land area577 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Iowa counties34th of 99
- Width, east to west26 mi
- Height, north to south24.1 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary5
- Residents per square mile of land26
- Establishments per square mile0.64
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.
Hamilton County
Flood risk in Hamilton County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Hamilton County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 190872
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book7
- Of those, participating in the NFIP7
- NFIP participation rate100.0 percent
- Communities carrying a CRS class0
- Radon levels in Hamilton 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 Hamilton County (community 190872), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries no Community Rating System class, so no CRS premium discount applies there. The EPA places Hamilton 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 Hamilton 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 Hamilton County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202414,886
- Households6,434
- Average household size2.31
- Median household income$72,432
- Median age41.7
Common questions
Hamilton County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Hamilton County, Iowa?
The Census Bureau estimates 14,856 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 14,886, in 6,434 households, ranking 51st of 99 Iowa counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Hamilton County's population growing?
The population has fallen 1.22 percent since the 2020 census base of 15,039, to 14,856 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 187 births against 192 deaths, with net migration of 14. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Hamilton County?
$72,432. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $156,400, which is 2.2 times income, and median gross rent is $877 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Hamilton County?
367 establishments, employing 4,559 people with an annual payroll of $248.8 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 Hamilton County?
Manufacturing is the largest private sector at 837 jobs, 14.4 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 5,798 jobs at an average annual pay of $52,922, or $1,018 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Hamilton County?
7 7(a) approvals totaling $5.9 m since FY2020, across 5 lenders, with a median approval of $337,500, plus 1 504 approvals worth $305,000 since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Hamilton County?
9 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $1.8 m. Multifamily was 55.6 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Hamilton 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 Hamilton County come from?
The largest single origin is Story County, with 61 households. Arriving households report an average income of $53,986 against $56,111 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Hamilton 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 Hamilton 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.
Hamilton County
Cities and places in Hamilton.
9 Census places lie wholly or partly in Hamilton County. All 9 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Webster City | city | 7,769 | 5 | Wholly in this county |
| Jewell Junction | city | 1,084 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Stratford | city | 735 | None recorded | 65.7 percent here, 34.3 percent Webster County |
| Stanhope | city | 509 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Ellsworth | city | 482 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Williams | city | 369 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Kamrar | city | 145 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Randall | city | 142 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Blairsburg | city | 139 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
Nearby