Palo Alto County, Iowa: commercial real estate data.
Palo Alto County, Iowa had an estimated 8,809 residents on July 1, 2024, down 2.1 percent since the 2020 census base of 9,001, across 564 square miles. County output reached $796.3 m in 2024, 272 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 5 7(a) approvals worth $1.3 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Palo Alto County
How many people live in Palo Alto County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-20248,863
- Households3,782
- Average household size2.34
- Median household income$72,781
- Median age41.9
- Median gross rent$638 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$123,200
- Home value to household income1.7 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income10.5 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher19.0 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree4.5 percent
- Adults 25 and over6,049
- Population under 182,044
- Share under 1823.1 percent
- Population 65 and over1,970
- Share 65 and over22.2 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 644,849
- Civilian labor force4,763
- Unemployment rate2.2 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over69.8 percent
- Rank by population among Iowa counties82nd of 99
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included2576th of 3,222
Palo Alto County is the 82nd largest of 99 Iowa counties by population. A median home costs 1.7 times median household income, which is affordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 23.1 percent against 22.2 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Palo Alto County
Is Palo Alto County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 20248,809
- Census 2020 base population9,001
- Population change since the 2020 census base-2.13 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 20242
- Births, 2024103
- Deaths, 2024145
- Natural change, 2024-42
- Net domestic migration, 202433
- Net international migration, 202412
- Total net migration, 202445
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 2024-60
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents2533rd of 3,144
The county has lost 2.13 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.
Palo Alto County
Where are people moving to Palo Alto County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving199
- People arriving, from those returns313
- Tax returns filed by households leaving208
- Net household movement-9
- Adjusted gross income arriving$10.2 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$-640,000
- Average income of an arriving household$51,412
- Average income of a leaving household$52,264
- Largest single originClay County (35 households)
- Largest single destinationKossuth County (25 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clay County | 35 | 63 | $1.6 m |
| Kossuth County | 21 | 30 | $1.3 m |
Households arriving report $852 less average income than households leaving, which drains spending power even where headcount holds up. The largest single source of arrivals is Clay 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.
Palo Alto County
What is the Palo Alto County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$796.3 m
- County GDP, 2023$708.6 m
- GDP change, 2023 to 202412.4 percent
- GDP change over five years68.7 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Iowa areas BEA publishes63rd of 99
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes2031st of 3,127
- GDP per resident$89,845
Output grew 12.4 percent in the latest year and 68.7 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.
Palo Alto County
Employment by industry in Palo Alto County
- Covered employment, annual average3,615
- Establishments reporting336
- Average annual pay$47,406
- Average weekly wage$912
- Manufacturing, employment487
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$67,968
- Retail trade, employment402
- Retail trade, average annual pay$28,440
- Accommodation and food services, employment379
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$24,116
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, employment259
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, average annual pay$53,798
- Construction, employment214
- Wholesale trade, employment125
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 487 | 18 | $67,968 |
| Retail trade | 402 | 35 | $28,440 |
| Accommodation and food services | 379 | 24 | $24,116 |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting | 259 | 34 | $53,798 |
| Construction | 214 | 30 | $64,457 |
| Wholesale trade | 125 | 20 | $69,558 |
| Finance and insurance | 102 | 22 | $77,497 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 47 | 18 | $36,480 |
Manufacturing is the largest private sector at 487 jobs, 13.5 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Palo Alto County
How many businesses are in Palo Alto County?
- Establishments, all industries272
- Employment at those establishments2,881
- Annual payroll$136.8 m
- Establishments per 1,000 residents30.7
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.
Palo Alto County
Building permits in Palo Alto County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 202410
- Declared construction value permitted$3.3 m
- Single family units authorized10
- Multifamily units authorized0
- Multifamily share of units0.0 percent
- Average declared value per unit$330,565
- Units authorized per 1,000 households2.6
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.
Palo Alto County
SBA loans in Palo Alto County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded5
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$1.3 m
- Average 7(a) approval$256,000
- Median 7(a) approval$50,000
- Largest single approval$995,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)18
- Jobs per approval3.6
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active4
- Distinct industries receiving approvals5
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer20.0 percent
- Loans on real estate terms1
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter4
- Franchise loans0
- Franchise share of approvals0.0 percent
- 504 approvals recorded7
- 504 gross approval dollars$5.0 m
- Average 504 approval$708,143
- Median 504 approval$474,000
- Distinct CDCs active2
- 504 jobs per approval13.4
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved19.0
- Most active CDCIowa Business Growth Company (6)
- 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.
Palo Alto County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Palo Alto County
Do SBA loans in Palo Alto County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded2
- Paid in full1
- Charged off1
- Status: Exempt from disclosure3
- Status: Charged off1
- Status: Paid in full1
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.
Palo Alto County
SBA lending by place in Palo Alto County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending2
- Emmetsburg, approvals4
- Graettinger, approvals1
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Emmetsburg | 4 | $285,000 |
| Graettinger | 1 | $995,000 |
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Palo Alto County
How large is Palo Alto County?
- Land area564 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Iowa counties58th of 99
- Width, east to west23.8 mi
- Height, north to south24 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary4
- Residents per square mile of land16
- Establishments per square mile0.48
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.
Palo Alto County
Flood risk in Palo Alto County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Palo Alto County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 190898
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book6
- Of those, participating in the NFIP4
- NFIP participation rate66.7 percent
- Communities carrying a CRS class0
- Radon levels in Palo Alto 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 Palo Alto County (community 190898), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries no Community Rating System class, so no CRS premium discount applies there. The EPA places Palo Alto 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 Palo Alto 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 Palo Alto County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-20248,863
- Households3,782
- Average household size2.34
- Median household income$72,781
- Median age41.9
Common questions
Palo Alto County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Palo Alto County, Iowa?
The Census Bureau estimates 8,809 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 8,863, in 3,782 households, ranking 82nd of 99 Iowa counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Palo Alto County's population growing?
The population has fallen 2.13 percent since the 2020 census base of 9,001, to 8,809 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 103 births against 145 deaths, with net migration of 45. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Palo Alto County?
$72,781. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $123,200, which is 1.7 times income, and median gross rent is $638 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Palo Alto County?
272 establishments, employing 2,881 people with an annual payroll of $136.8 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 Palo Alto County?
Manufacturing is the largest private sector at 487 jobs, 13.5 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 3,615 jobs at an average annual pay of $47,406, or $912 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Palo Alto County?
5 7(a) approvals totaling $1.3 m since FY2020, across 4 lenders, with a median approval of $50,000, plus 7 504 approvals worth $5.0 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Palo Alto County?
10 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $3.3 m. Multifamily was 0.0 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Palo Alto 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 Palo Alto County come from?
The largest single origin is Clay County, with 35 households. Arriving households report an average income of $51,412 against $52,264 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Palo Alto 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 Palo Alto 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.
Palo Alto County
Cities and places in Palo Alto.
9 Census places lie wholly or partly in Palo Alto 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emmetsburg | city | 3,648 | 4 | Wholly in this county |
| Graettinger | city | 1,096 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| West Bend | city | 855 | None recorded | 67.8 percent here, 32.2 percent Kossuth County |
| Ruthven | city | 732 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Mallard | city | 263 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Ayrshire | city | 146 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Curlew | city | 54 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Cylinder | city | 46 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Rodman | city | 26 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
Nearby