Van Buren County, Iowa: commercial real estate data.
Van Buren County, Iowa had an estimated 7,217 residents on July 1, 2024, up 0.2 percent since the 2020 census base of 7,202, across 485 square miles. County output reached $295.0 m in 2024, 149 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 6 7(a) approvals worth $7.5 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Van Buren County
How many people live in Van Buren County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-20247,241
- Households2,896
- Average household size2.50
- Median household income$61,161
- Median age44.7
- Median gross rent$622 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$114,600
- Home value to household income1.9 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income12.2 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher18.8 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree5.8 percent
- Adults 25 and over5,042
- Population under 181,709
- Share under 1823.6 percent
- Population 65 and over1,707
- Share 65 and over23.6 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 643,825
- Civilian labor force3,341
- Unemployment rate4.1 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over60.4 percent
- Rank by population among Iowa counties90th of 99
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included2720th of 3,222
Van Buren County is the 90th largest of 99 Iowa counties by population. A median home costs 1.9 times median household income, which is affordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 23.6 percent against 23.6 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Van Buren County
Is Van Buren County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 20247,217
- Census 2020 base population7,202
- Population change since the 2020 census base0.21 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024-49
- Births, 202496
- Deaths, 202483
- Natural change, 202413
- Net domestic migration, 2024-61
- Net international migration, 20241
- Total net migration, 2024-60
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 2024-30
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents1751st of 3,144
The county has grown 0.21 percent since the 2020 census base. More people left than moved in during 2024 and births over deaths did not make up the difference, so the population fell.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Van Buren County
Where are people moving to Van Buren County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving137
- People arriving, from those returns248
- Tax returns filed by households leaving109
- Net household movement28
- Adjusted gross income arriving$5.8 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$1.5 m
- Average income of an arriving household$42,263
- Average income of a leaving household$39,615
- Largest single originJefferson County (29 households)
- Largest single destinationJefferson County (25 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jefferson County | 29 | 61 | $905,000 |
Households arriving report $2,648 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 Jefferson 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.
Van Buren County
What is the Van Buren County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$295.0 m
- County GDP, 2023$293.1 m
- GDP change, 2023 to 20240.7 percent
- GDP change over five years28.6 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Iowa areas BEA publishes96th of 99
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes2708th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$40,740
Output grew 0.7 percent in the latest year and 28.6 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.
Van Buren County
Employment by industry in Van Buren County
- Covered employment, annual average1,923
- Establishments reporting224
- Average annual pay$46,260
- Average weekly wage$890
- Manufacturing, employment501
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$53,137
- Retail trade, employment216
- Retail trade, average annual pay$29,911
- Wholesale trade, employment104
- Wholesale trade, average annual pay$54,694
- Construction, employment57
- Construction, average annual pay$43,374
- Transportation and warehousing, employment52
- Finance and insurance, employment51
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 501 | 14 | $53,137 |
| Retail trade | 216 | 24 | $29,911 |
| Wholesale trade | 104 | 18 | $54,694 |
| Construction | 57 | 18 | $43,374 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 52 | 15 | $73,407 |
| Finance and insurance | 51 | 17 | $59,270 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 49 | 11 | $33,400 |
| Other services, except public administration | 26 | 8 | $40,271 |
Manufacturing is the largest private sector at 501 jobs, 26.1 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Van Buren County
How many businesses are in Van Buren County?
- Establishments, all industries149
- Employment at those establishments1,389
- Annual payroll$65.8 m
- Establishments per 1,000 residents20.6
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.
Van Buren County
Building permits in Van Buren County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 20243
- Declared construction value permitted$505,000
- Single family units authorized3
- Multifamily units authorized0
- Multifamily share of units0.0 percent
- Average declared value per unit$168,333
- Units authorized per 1,000 households1.0
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.
Van Buren County
SBA loans in Van Buren County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded6
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$7.5 m
- Average 7(a) approval$1,249,317
- Median 7(a) approval$1,247,500
- Largest single approval$2,127,500
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)117
- Jobs per approval19.5
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active3
- Distinct industries receiving approvals3
- Median 7(a) term122 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer16.7 percent
- Loans on real estate terms1
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter3
- Franchise loans0
- Franchise share of approvals0.0 percent
- Leading industry by approval countCreamery Butter Manufacturing (3)
- Most active lenderHills Bank and Trust Company (3)
- 504 approvals recorded1
- 504 gross approval dollars$492,000
- Average 504 approval$492,000
- Median 504 approval$492,000
- Distinct CDCs active1
- 504 jobs per approval6.0
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved12.2
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$8.0 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.
Van Buren County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Van Buren County
Do SBA loans in Van Buren County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded0
- Paid in full0
- Charged off0
- Status: Cancelled2
- Status: Exempt from disclosure4
Only 0 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.
Van Buren County
SBA lending by place in Van Buren County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending3
- Milton, approvals3
- Douds, approvals2
- Keosauqua, approvals1
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Milton | 3 | $4,245,000 |
| Douds | 2 | $3,000,000 |
| Keosauqua | 1 | $250,900 |
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Van Buren County
How large is Van Buren County?
- Land area485 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Iowa counties74th of 99
- Width, east to west24.3 mi
- Height, north to south20.9 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary6
- Residents per square mile of land15
- Establishments per square mile0.31
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.
Van Buren County
Flood risk in Van Buren County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Van Buren County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 190265
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book8
- Of those, participating in the NFIP8
- NFIP participation rate100.0 percent
- Communities carrying a CRS class0
- Radon levels in Van Buren 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 Van Buren County (community 190265), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries no Community Rating System class, so no CRS premium discount applies there. The EPA places Van Buren 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 Van Buren 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 Van Buren County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-20247,241
- Households2,896
- Average household size2.50
- Median household income$61,161
- Median age44.7
Common questions
Van Buren County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Van Buren County, Iowa?
The Census Bureau estimates 7,217 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 7,241, in 2,896 households, ranking 90th of 99 Iowa counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Van Buren County's population growing?
The population has grown 0.21 percent since the 2020 census base of 7,202, to 7,217 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 96 births against 83 deaths, with net migration of -60. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Van Buren County?
$61,161. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $114,600, which is 1.9 times income, and median gross rent is $622 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Van Buren County?
149 establishments, employing 1,389 people with an annual payroll of $65.8 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 Van Buren County?
Manufacturing is the largest private sector at 501 jobs, 26.1 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 1,923 jobs at an average annual pay of $46,260, or $890 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Van Buren County?
6 7(a) approvals totaling $7.5 m since FY2020, across 3 lenders, with a median approval of $1,247,500, plus 1 504 approvals worth $492,000 since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Van Buren County?
3 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $505,000. Multifamily was 0.0 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Van Buren 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 Van Buren County come from?
The largest single origin is Jefferson County, with 29 households. Arriving households report an average income of $42,263 against $39,615 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Van Buren 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 Van Buren 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.
Van Buren County
Cities and places in Van Buren.
10 Census places lie wholly or partly in Van Buren County. All 10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Keosauqua | city | 914 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Farmington | city | 540 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Milton | city | 493 | 3 | Wholly in this county |
| Birmingham | city | 454 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Cantril | city | 335 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Bonaparte | city | 302 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Douds | CDP | 243 | 2 | Wholly in this county |
| Stockport | city | 210 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Leando | CDP | 74 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Mount Sterling | CDP | 36 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
Nearby