Warren County, Iowa: commercial real estate data.
Warren County, Iowa had an estimated 56,343 residents on July 1, 2024, up 7.5 percent since the 2020 census base of 52,397, across 570 square miles. County output reached $1.89 bn in 2024, 1,020 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 66 7(a) approvals worth $23.1 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Warren County
How many people live in Warren County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202454,409
- Households20,679
- Average household size2.63
- Median household income$94,588
- Median age38.8
- Median gross rent$973 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$269,600
- Home value to household income2.9 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income12.3 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher33.3 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree9.7 percent
- Adults 25 and over36,256
- Population under 1813,292
- Share under 1824.4 percent
- Population 65 and over9,112
- Share 65 and over16.7 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6432,005
- Civilian labor force29,293
- Unemployment rate3.4 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over71.2 percent
- Rank by population among Iowa counties11th of 99
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included956th of 3,222
Warren County is the 11th largest of 99 Iowa counties by population. A median home costs 2.9 times median household income, which is affordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 24.4 percent against 16.7 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Warren County
Is Warren County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202456,343
- Census 2020 base population52,397
- Population change since the 2020 census base7.53 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 20241,045
- Births, 2024616
- Deaths, 2024505
- Natural change, 2024111
- Net domestic migration, 2024889
- Net international migration, 202447
- Total net migration, 2024936
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 20243,313
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents273rd of 3,144
The county has grown 7.53 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.
Warren County
Where are people moving to Warren County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving1,841
- People arriving, from those returns3,445
- Tax returns filed by households leaving1,539
- Net household movement302
- Adjusted gross income arriving$154.1 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$54.6 m
- Average income of an arriving household$83,693
- Average income of a leaving household$64,619
- Largest single originPolk County (907 households)
- Largest single destinationPolk County (730 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Polk County | 907 | 1,756 | $68.9 m |
| Dallas County | 141 | 265 | $16.6 m |
| Madison County | 59 | 110 | $3.4 m |
| Marion County | 50 | 94 | $3.3 m |
| Story County | 35 | 60 | $1.6 m |
| Clarke County | 27 | 44 | $940,000 |
| Linn County | 22 | 42 | $1.8 m |
| Lucas County | 20 | 42 | $925,000 |
Households arriving report $19,074 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 Polk 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.
Warren County
What is the Warren County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$1.89 bn
- County GDP, 2023$1.79 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20245.3 percent
- GDP change over five years36.8 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Iowa areas BEA publishes23rd of 99
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes1336th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$34,652
Output grew 5.3 percent in the latest year and 36.8 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.
Warren County
Employment by industry in Warren County
- Covered employment, annual average13,125
- Establishments reporting1,410
- Average annual pay$51,236
- Average weekly wage$985
- Retail trade, employment2,057
- Retail trade, average annual pay$34,074
- Health care and social assistance, employment1,640
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$43,152
- Construction, employment1,355
- Construction, average annual pay$68,609
- Accommodation and food services, employment1,220
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$18,033
- Manufacturing, employment863
- Professional, scientific and technical services, employment472
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 2,057 | 107 | $34,074 |
| Health care and social assistance | 1,640 | 155 | $43,152 |
| Construction | 1,355 | 188 | $68,609 |
| Accommodation and food services | 1,220 | 88 | $18,033 |
| Manufacturing | 863 | 42 | $65,048 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 472 | 172 | $88,116 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 405 | 74 | $53,234 |
| Finance and insurance | 397 | 109 | $90,396 |
Retail trade is the largest private sector at 2,057 jobs, 15.7 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Warren County
How many businesses are in Warren County?
- Establishments, all industries1,020
- Employment at those establishments9,993
- Annual payroll$440.3 m
- Establishments per 1,000 residents18.7
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.
Warren County
Building permits in Warren County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 2024438
- Declared construction value permitted$124.5 m
- Single family units authorized436
- Multifamily units authorized2
- Multifamily share of units0.5 percent
- Average declared value per unit$284,332
- Units authorized per 1,000 households21.2
Single-family homes are 99.5 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Warren County
SBA loans in Warren County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded66
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$23.1 m
- Average 7(a) approval$349,818
- Median 7(a) approval$150,000
- 10th percentile approval$25,000
- 90th percentile approval$790,000
- Largest single approval$4,850,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)468
- Jobs per approval7.1
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active27
- Distinct industries receiving approvals46
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer19.7 percent
- Loans on real estate terms13
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter51
- Franchise loans5
- Franchise share of approvals7.6 percent
- Most active lenderTruBank (21)
- 504 approvals recorded37
- 504 gross approval dollars$28.2 m
- Average 504 approval$763,216
- Median 504 approval$346,000
- Distinct CDCs active4
- 504 jobs per approval9.6
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved12.5
- Most active CDCIowa Business Growth Company (31)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$51.3 m
The average approval of $349,818 sits well above the median of $150,000, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 19.7 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.
Warren County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Warren County
Do SBA loans in Warren County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded12
- Paid in full12
- Charged off0
- Status: Paid in full12
- Status: Exempt from disclosure42
- Status: Cancelled8
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed4
Only 12 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.
Warren County
SBA lending by place in Warren County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending10
- Indianola, approvals27
- Norwalk, approvals22
- Carlisle, approvals5
- Cumming, approvals4
- Milo, approvals2
- New Virginia, approvals2
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Indianola | 27 | $7,224,600 |
| Norwalk | 22 | $6,343,000 |
| Carlisle | 5 | $1,461,000 |
| Cumming | 4 | $2,613,700 |
| Milo | 2 | $4,875,000 |
| New Virginia | 2 | $155,700 |
| Des Moines | 1 | $150,000 |
| Saint Charles | 1 | $150,000 |
| 2 other borrower cities | 2 | $115,000 |
Indianola accounts for 27 approvals against 22 in Norwalk. 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.
Warren County
How large is Warren County?
- Land area570 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Iowa counties48th of 99
- Width, east to west24 mi
- Height, north to south24.3 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary5
- Residents per square mile of land95
- Establishments per square mile1.79
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.
Warren County
Flood risk in Warren County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Warren County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 190912
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book13
- Of those, participating in the NFIP11
- NFIP participation rate84.6 percent
- Best Community Rating System class in the county A lower CRS class is a larger flood insurance premium discount.Class 5
- Communities carrying a CRS class1
- Radon levels in Warren 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 Warren County (community 190912), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries no Community Rating System class, so no CRS premium discount applies there. The EPA places Warren 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 5, which carries a flood insurance premium discount for policies written in that community. 84.6 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 Warren 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 Warren County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202454,409
- Households20,679
- Average household size2.63
- Median household income$94,588
- Median age38.8
Common questions
Warren County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Warren County, Iowa?
The Census Bureau estimates 56,343 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 54,409, in 20,679 households, ranking 11th of 99 Iowa counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Warren County's population growing?
The population has grown 7.53 percent since the 2020 census base of 52,397, to 56,343 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 616 births against 505 deaths, with net migration of 936. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Warren County?
$94,588. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $269,600, which is 2.9 times income, and median gross rent is $973 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Warren County?
1,020 establishments, employing 9,993 people with an annual payroll of $440.3 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 Warren County?
Retail trade is the largest private sector at 2,057 jobs, 15.7 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 13,125 jobs at an average annual pay of $51,236, or $985 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Warren County?
66 7(a) approvals totaling $23.1 m since FY2020, across 27 lenders, with a median approval of $150,000, plus 37 504 approvals worth $28.2 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Warren County?
438 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $124.5 m. Multifamily was 0.5 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Warren 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 Warren County come from?
The largest single origin is Polk County, with 907 households. Arriving households report an average income of $83,693 against $64,619 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Warren 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 Warren 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.
Warren County
Cities and places in Warren.
16 Census places lie wholly or partly in Warren County. All 16 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines | city | 212,421 | 1 | 7.1 percent here, 92.9 percent Polk County |
| West Des Moines | city | 71,083 | None recorded | 4.1 percent here, 54.2 percent Polk County, 40.2 percent Dallas County |
| Indianola | city | 16,044 | 27 | Wholly in this county |
| Norwalk | city | 14,183 | 22 | Wholly in this county |
| Carlisle | city | 4,255 | 5 | 41.0 percent here, 59.0 percent Polk County |
| Hartford | city | 760 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Milo | city | 731 | 2 | Wholly in this county |
| New Virginia | city | 587 | 2 | Wholly in this county |
| Martensdale | city | 569 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Cumming | city | 545 | 4 | Wholly in this county |
| Lacona | city | 354 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| St. Marys | city | 96 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Ackworth | city | 75 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Sandyville | city | 44 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Spring Hill | city | 39 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Bevington | city | 15 | None recorded | 46.0 percent here, 54.0 percent Madison County |
A further 2 of the county's 66 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Warren County, the largest being Saint Charles (1), Prole (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