Kossuth County, Iowa: commercial real estate data.
Kossuth County, Iowa had an estimated 14,408 residents on July 1, 2024, down 2.8 percent since the 2020 census base of 14,817, across 973 square miles. County output reached $1.40 bn in 2024, 536 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 6 7(a) approvals worth $1.8 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Kossuth County
How many people live in Kossuth County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202414,516
- Households6,543
- Average household size2.22
- Median household income$67,697
- Median age44.2
- Median gross rent$859 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$148,300
- Home value to household income2.2 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income15.2 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher22.8 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree5.8 percent
- Adults 25 and over10,374
- Population under 183,198
- Share under 1822.0 percent
- Population 65 and over3,686
- Share 65 and over25.4 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 647,632
- Civilian labor force7,353
- Unemployment rate1.9 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over65.0 percent
- Rank by population among Iowa counties54th of 99
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included2186th of 3,222
Kossuth County is the 54th largest of 99 Iowa counties by population. A median home costs 2.2 times median household income, which is affordable by national standards. Residents 65 and over outnumber those under 18, at 25.4 percent against 22.0 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.
Kossuth County
Is Kossuth County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202414,408
- Census 2020 base population14,817
- Population change since the 2020 census base-2.76 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024-2
- Births, 2024156
- Deaths, 2024186
- Natural change, 2024-30
- Net domestic migration, 20240
- Net international migration, 202431
- Total net migration, 202431
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 2024-274
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents2692nd of 3,144
The county has lost 2.76 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.
Kossuth County
Where are people moving to Kossuth County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving303
- People arriving, from those returns559
- Tax returns filed by households leaving364
- Net household movement-61
- Adjusted gross income arriving$14.7 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$-3.4 m
- Average income of an arriving household$48,535
- Average income of a leaving household$49,846
- Largest single originPalo Alto County (25 households)
- Largest single destinationPolk County (35 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palo Alto County | 25 | 65 | $956,000 |
| Hancock County | 21 | 38 | $1.3 m |
| Humboldt County | 21 | 41 | $1.2 m |
| Polk County | 21 | 34 | $929,000 |
Households arriving report $1,311 less average income than households leaving, which drains spending power even where headcount holds up. The largest single source of arrivals is Palo Alto 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.
Kossuth County
What is the Kossuth County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$1.40 bn
- County GDP, 2023$1.31 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20246.9 percent
- GDP change over five years64.8 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Iowa areas BEA publishes32nd of 99
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes1572nd of 3,127
- GDP per resident$96,357
Output grew 6.9 percent in the latest year and 64.8 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.
Kossuth County
Employment by industry in Kossuth County
- Covered employment, annual average6,565
- Establishments reporting644
- Average annual pay$52,766
- Average weekly wage$1,015
- Manufacturing, employment1,456
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$63,891
- Retail trade, employment702
- Retail trade, average annual pay$30,378
- Wholesale trade, employment412
- Wholesale trade, average annual pay$67,617
- Finance and insurance, employment404
- Finance and insurance, average annual pay$85,469
- Construction, employment364
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, employment319
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 1,456 | 34 | $63,891 |
| Retail trade | 702 | 67 | $30,378 |
| Wholesale trade | 412 | 60 | $67,617 |
| Finance and insurance | 404 | 55 | $85,469 |
| Construction | 364 | 70 | $69,217 |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting | 319 | 36 | $62,545 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 191 | 40 | $60,974 |
| Other services, except public administration | 143 | 47 | $35,528 |
Manufacturing is the largest private sector at 1,456 jobs, 22.2 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Kossuth County
How many businesses are in Kossuth County?
- Establishments, all industries536
- Employment at those establishments5,276
- Annual payroll$275.3 m
- Establishments per 1,000 residents36.9
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.
Kossuth County
Building permits in Kossuth County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 20249
- Declared construction value permitted$3.7 m
- Single family units authorized9
- Multifamily units authorized0
- Multifamily share of units0.0 percent
- Average declared value per unit$415,333
- Units authorized per 1,000 households1.4
Single-family homes are 100.0 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Kossuth County
SBA loans in Kossuth County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded6
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$1.8 m
- Average 7(a) approval$301,667
- Median 7(a) approval$195,000
- Largest single approval$777,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)40
- Jobs per approval6.7
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active5
- Distinct industries receiving approvals5
- Median 7(a) term90 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer0.0 percent
- Loans on real estate terms0
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter5
- Franchise loans1
- Franchise share of approvals16.7 percent
- 504 approvals recorded4
- 504 gross approval dollars$503,000
- Average 504 approval$125,750
- Median 504 approval$130,000
- Distinct CDCs active2
- 504 jobs per approval1.0
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved8.0
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$2.3 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.
Kossuth County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Kossuth County
Do SBA loans in Kossuth County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded1
- Paid in full1
- Charged off0
- Status: Exempt from disclosure4
- Status: Cancelled1
- Status: Paid in full1
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.
Kossuth County
SBA lending by place in Kossuth County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending3
- Algona, approvals4
- Fenton, approvals1
- Titonka, approvals1
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Algona | 4 | $1,420,000 |
| Fenton | 1 | $350,000 |
| Titonka | 1 | $40,000 |
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Kossuth County
How large is Kossuth County?
- Land area973 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Iowa counties1st of 99
- Width, east to west23.8 mi
- Height, north to south40.9 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary7
- Residents per square mile of land15
- Establishments per square mile0.55
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.
Kossuth County
Flood risk in Kossuth County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Kossuth County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 190884
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book10
- Of those, participating in the NFIP9
- NFIP participation rate90.0 percent
- Communities carrying a CRS class0
- Radon levels in Kossuth 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 Kossuth County (community 190884), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries no Community Rating System class, so no CRS premium discount applies there. The EPA places Kossuth 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. 90.0 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 Kossuth 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 Kossuth County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202414,516
- Households6,543
- Average household size2.22
- Median household income$67,697
- Median age44.2
Common questions
Kossuth County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Kossuth County, Iowa?
The Census Bureau estimates 14,408 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 14,516, in 6,543 households, ranking 54th of 99 Iowa counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Kossuth County's population growing?
The population has fallen 2.76 percent since the 2020 census base of 14,817, to 14,408 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 156 births against 186 deaths, with net migration of 31. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Kossuth County?
$67,697. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $148,300, which is 2.2 times income, and median gross rent is $859 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Kossuth County?
536 establishments, employing 5,276 people with an annual payroll of $275.3 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 Kossuth County?
Manufacturing is the largest private sector at 1,456 jobs, 22.2 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 6,565 jobs at an average annual pay of $52,766, or $1,015 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Kossuth County?
6 7(a) approvals totaling $1.8 m since FY2020, across 5 lenders, with a median approval of $195,000, plus 4 504 approvals worth $503,000 since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Kossuth County?
9 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $3.7 m. Multifamily was 0.0 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Kossuth 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 Kossuth County come from?
The largest single origin is Palo Alto County, with 25 households. Arriving households report an average income of $48,535 against $49,846 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Kossuth 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 Kossuth 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.
Kossuth County
Cities and places in Kossuth.
17 Census places lie wholly or partly in Kossuth County. All 17 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Algona | city | 5,377 | 4 | Wholly in this county |
| West Bend | city | 855 | None recorded | 32.2 percent here, 67.8 percent Palo Alto County |
| Bancroft | city | 626 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Swea City | city | 591 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Whittemore | city | 569 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Burt | city | 511 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Titonka | city | 452 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Wesley | city | 360 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Lu Verne | city | 318 | None recorded | 49.3 percent here, 50.7 percent Humboldt County |
| Fenton | city | 290 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Lakota | city | 266 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Ledyard | city | 112 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Lone Rock | city | 106 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| St. Joseph | CDP | 73 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Irvington | CDP | 34 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| St. Benedict | CDP | 25 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Sexton | CDP | 24 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |