Linn County, Iowa: commercial real estate data.
Linn County, Iowa had an estimated 231,762 residents on July 1, 2024, up 0.6 percent since the 2020 census base of 230,303, across 717 square miles. County output reached $21.90 bn in 2024, 5,744 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 227 7(a) approvals worth $127.0 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Linn County
How many people live in Linn County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024230,004
- Households95,600
- Average household size2.41
- Median household income$77,649
- Median age39.0
- Median gross rent$945 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$214,300
- Home value to household income2.8 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income14.6 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher34.7 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree11.4 percent
- Adults 25 and over157,534
- Population under 1851,857
- Share under 1822.5 percent
- Population 65 and over39,802
- Share 65 and over17.3 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 64138,345
- Civilian labor force125,113
- Unemployment rate3.5 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over70.2 percent
- Rank by population among Iowa counties2nd of 99
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included309th of 3,222
Linn County is the 2nd largest of 99 Iowa counties by population. A median home costs 2.8 times median household income, which is affordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 22.5 percent against 17.3 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Linn County
Is Linn County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 2024231,762
- Census 2020 base population230,303
- Population change since the 2020 census base0.63 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 20242,360
- Births, 20242,619
- Deaths, 20242,218
- Natural change, 2024401
- Net domestic migration, 2024263
- Net international migration, 20241,686
- Total net migration, 20241,949
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 2024-4,381
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents1608th of 3,144
The county has grown 0.63 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.
Linn County
Where are people moving to Linn County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving4,771
- People arriving, from those returns7,826
- Tax returns filed by households leaving5,163
- Net household movement-392
- Adjusted gross income arriving$283.9 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$-77.3 m
- Average income of an arriving household$59,503
- Average income of a leaving household$69,967
- Largest single originJohnson County (772 households)
- Largest single destinationJohnson County (620 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Johnson County | 772 | 1,172 | $47.6 m |
| Benton County | 246 | 405 | $11.6 m |
| Jones County | 166 | 303 | $8.3 m |
| Black Hawk County | 155 | 239 | $7.0 m |
| Polk County | 150 | 246 | $7.7 m |
| Scott County | 105 | 155 | $7.3 m |
| Cook County | 102 | 164 | $7.8 m |
| Dubuque County | 95 | 145 | $4.9 m |
Households arriving report $10,464 less average income than households leaving, which drains spending power even where headcount holds up. The largest single source of arrivals is Johnson 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.
Linn County
What is the Linn County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$21.90 bn
- County GDP, 2023$21.04 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20244.1 percent
- GDP change over five years24.7 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Iowa areas BEA publishes2nd of 99
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes242nd of 3,127
- GDP per resident$95,212
Output grew 4.1 percent in the latest year and 24.7 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.
Linn County
Employment by industry in Linn County
- Covered employment, annual average125,917
- Establishments reporting7,760
- Average annual pay$67,613
- Average weekly wage$1,300
- Manufacturing, employment18,530
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$105,172
- Health care and social assistance, employment17,505
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$61,428
- Retail trade, employment12,504
- Retail trade, average annual pay$36,758
- Accommodation and food services, employment9,507
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$21,788
- Construction, employment7,795
- Finance and insurance, employment7,387
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 18,530 | 266 | $105,172 |
| Health care and social assistance | 17,505 | 993 | $61,428 |
| Retail trade | 12,504 | 700 | $36,758 |
| Accommodation and food services | 9,507 | 536 | $21,788 |
| Construction | 7,795 | 611 | $74,882 |
| Finance and insurance | 7,387 | 535 | $103,442 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 7,181 | 527 | $47,577 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 5,911 | 1,092 | $97,432 |
Manufacturing is the largest private sector at 18,530 jobs, 14.7 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Linn County
How many businesses are in Linn County?
- Establishments, all industries5,744
- Employment at those establishments119,172
- Annual payroll$7.24 bn
- Establishments per 1,000 residents25.0
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.
Linn County
Building permits in Linn County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 20241,024
- Declared construction value permitted$216.5 m
- Single family units authorized443
- Multifamily units authorized581
- Multifamily share of units56.7 percent
- Average declared value per unit$211,473
- Units authorized per 1,000 households10.7
Multifamily is 56.7 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is being built for renters rather than buyers.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Linn County
SBA loans in Linn County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded227
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$127.0 m
- Average 7(a) approval$559,430
- Median 7(a) approval$200,000
- 10th percentile approval$30,000
- 90th percentile approval$1,772,160
- Largest single approval$5,000,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)3,868
- Jobs per approval17.0
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active50
- Distinct industries receiving approvals106
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer6.2 percent
- Loans on real estate terms14
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter204
- Franchise loans33
- Franchise share of approvals14.5 percent
- Leading industry by approval countFull-Service Restaurants (13)
- Most active lenderFarmers and Merchants Savings Bank (36)
- 504 approvals recorded111
- 504 gross approval dollars$79.0 m
- Average 504 approval$711,297
- Median 504 approval$411,000
- Distinct CDCs active5
- 504 jobs per approval12.3
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved17.3
- Most active CDCIowa Business Growth Company (60)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$205.9 m
The average approval of $559,430 sits well above the median of $200,000, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 6.2 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.
Linn County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Linn County
Do SBA loans in Linn County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded67
- Paid in full63
- Charged off4
- Charge-off rate on resolved loans6.0 percent
- Status: Paid in full63
- Status: Exempt from disclosure130
- Status: Cancelled18
- Status: Charged off4
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed12
Of the 67 loans that have reached a final outcome, 6.0 percent were charged off. This is computed only over resolved loans, because a loan still running has not yet succeeded or failed and counting it either way would be wrong.
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.
Linn County
SBA lending by place in Linn County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending12
- Cedar Rapids, approvals146
- Marion, approvals38
- Hiawatha, approvals10
- Mount Vernon, approvals9
- Lisbon, approvals7
- Center Point, approvals5
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Cedar Rapids | 146 | $79,606,200 |
| Marion | 38 | $21,222,900 |
| Hiawatha | 10 | $7,713,200 |
| Mount Vernon | 9 | $7,787,700 |
| Lisbon | 7 | $5,291,500 |
| Center Point | 5 | $4,156,000 |
| Fairfax | 4 | $280,000 |
| Springville | 3 | $194,500 |
| 4 other borrower cities | 5 | $738,700 |
Cedar Rapids accounts for 146 approvals against 38 in Marion. 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.
Linn County
How large is Linn County?
- Land area717 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Iowa counties10th of 99
- Width, east to west24 mi
- Height, north to south30.3 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary6
- Residents per square mile of land321
- Establishments per square mile8.01
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.
Linn County
Flood risk in Linn County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Linn County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 190829
- Community Rating System class of the county's own communityClass 7
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book18
- Of those, participating in the NFIP18
- NFIP participation rate100.0 percent
- Best Community Rating System class in the county A lower CRS class is a larger flood insurance premium discount.Class 6
- Communities carrying a CRS class2
- Radon levels in Linn 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 Linn County (community 190829), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries Community Rating System class 7, a flood insurance premium discount for policies written there. The EPA places Linn 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 6, which carries a flood insurance premium discount for policies written in that community. 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 Linn 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 Linn County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024230,004
- Households95,600
- Average household size2.41
- Median household income$77,649
- Median age39.0
Common questions
Linn County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Linn County, Iowa?
The Census Bureau estimates 231,762 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 230,004, in 95,600 households, ranking 2nd of 99 Iowa counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Linn County's population growing?
The population has grown 0.63 percent since the 2020 census base of 230,303, to 231,762 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 2,619 births against 2,218 deaths, with net migration of 1,949. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Linn County?
$77,649. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $214,300, which is 2.8 times income, and median gross rent is $945 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Linn County?
5,744 establishments, employing 119,172 people with an annual payroll of $7.24 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 Linn County?
Manufacturing is the largest private sector at 18,530 jobs, 14.7 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 125,917 jobs at an average annual pay of $67,613, or $1,300 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Linn County?
227 7(a) approvals totaling $127.0 m since FY2020, across 50 lenders, with a median approval of $200,000, plus 111 504 approvals worth $79.0 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
Do SBA loans in Linn County get paid back?
Of the 67 loans that have reached a final outcome, 63 were paid in full and 4 charged off, a charge-off rate of 6.0 percent. Loans still running are excluded, because they have not yet succeeded or failed.
How many building permits were issued in Linn County?
1,024 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $216.5 m. Multifamily was 56.7 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Linn 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 Linn County come from?
The largest single origin is Johnson County, with 772 households. Arriving households report an average income of $59,503 against $69,967 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Linn 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 Linn 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.
Linn County
Cities and places in Linn.
18 Census places lie wholly or partly in Linn 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cedar Rapids | city | 137,264 | 146 | Wholly in this county |
| Marion | city | 41,896 | 38 | Wholly in this county |
| Hiawatha | city | 7,206 | 10 | Wholly in this county |
| Mount Vernon | city | 4,513 | 9 | Wholly in this county |
| Robins | city | 3,332 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Fairfax | city | 2,900 | 4 | Wholly in this county |
| Center Point | city | 2,562 | 5 | Wholly in this county |
| Ely | city | 2,186 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Lisbon | city | 1,714 | 7 | Wholly in this county |
| Palo | city | 1,438 | 2 | Wholly in this county |
| Central City | city | 1,356 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Walford | city | 1,329 | None recorded | 53.9 percent here, 46.1 percent Benton County |
| Springville | city | 1,172 | 3 | Wholly in this county |
| Alburnett | city | 795 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Coggon | city | 744 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Walker | city | 661 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Bertram | city | 239 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Prairieburg | city | 143 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
A further 1 of the county's 227 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Linn County, the largest being Waterloo (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