Webster County, Iowa: commercial real estate data.
Webster County, Iowa had an estimated 36,909 residents on July 1, 2024, down 0.2 percent since the 2020 census base of 36,998, across 716 square miles. County output reached $2.76 bn in 2024, 997 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 14 7(a) approvals worth $8.3 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Webster County
How many people live in Webster County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202436,886
- Households15,375
- Average household size2.40
- Median household income$68,975
- Median age39.7
- Median gross rent$785 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$153,800
- Home value to household income2.2 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income13.7 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher22.0 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree5.8 percent
- Adults 25 and over24,781
- Population under 187,885
- Share under 1821.4 percent
- Population 65 and over7,323
- Share 65 and over19.9 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6421,678
- Civilian labor force18,773
- Unemployment rate4.8 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over64.7 percent
- Rank by population among Iowa counties18th of 99
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included1289th of 3,222
Webster County is the 18th largest of 99 Iowa counties by population. A median home costs 2.2 times median household income, which is affordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 21.4 percent against 19.9 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Webster County
Is Webster County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202436,909
- Census 2020 base population36,998
- Population change since the 2020 census base-0.24 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024256
- Births, 2024391
- Deaths, 2024445
- Natural change, 2024-54
- Net domestic migration, 202415
- Net international migration, 2024295
- Total net migration, 2024310
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 2024-457
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents1931st of 3,144
The county has lost 0.24 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.
Webster County
Where are people moving to Webster County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving838
- People arriving, from those returns1,346
- Tax returns filed by households leaving1,046
- Net household movement-208
- Adjusted gross income arriving$33.0 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$-14.0 m
- Average income of an arriving household$39,414
- Average income of a leaving household$44,999
- Largest single originPolk County (79 households)
- Largest single destinationPolk County (143 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Polk County | 79 | 118 | $3.2 m |
| Calhoun County | 49 | 91 | $2.0 m |
| Hamilton County | 47 | 65 | $1.5 m |
| Humboldt County | 46 | 77 | $2.0 m |
| Story County | 32 | 47 | $1.1 m |
| Wright County | 24 | 50 | $1.4 m |
| Boone County | 22 | 42 | $1.1 m |
Households arriving report $5,585 less average income than households leaving, which drains spending power even where headcount holds up. 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.
Webster County
What is the Webster County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$2.76 bn
- County GDP, 2023$2.70 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20242.2 percent
- GDP change over five years33.0 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Iowa areas BEA publishes17th of 99
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes1039th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$74,800
Output grew 2.2 percent in the latest year and 33.0 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.
Webster County
Employment by industry in Webster County
- Covered employment, annual average17,547
- Establishments reporting1,198
- Average annual pay$56,709
- Average weekly wage$1,091
- Manufacturing, employment2,619
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$79,805
- Health care and social assistance, employment2,527
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$57,831
- Retail trade, employment2,304
- Retail trade, average annual pay$32,177
- Construction, employment1,382
- Construction, average annual pay$71,545
- Accommodation and food services, employment1,376
- Transportation and warehousing, employment1,120
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 2,619 | 55 | $79,805 |
| Health care and social assistance | 2,527 | 140 | $57,831 |
| Retail trade | 2,304 | 144 | $32,177 |
| Construction | 1,382 | 115 | $71,545 |
| Accommodation and food services | 1,376 | 85 | $19,402 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 1,120 | 68 | $63,951 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 466 | 61 | $55,879 |
| Other services, except public administration | 416 | 64 | $58,238 |
Manufacturing is the largest private sector at 2,619 jobs, 14.9 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Webster County
How many businesses are in Webster County?
- Establishments, all industries997
- Employment at those establishments16,146
- Annual payroll$792.0 m
- Establishments per 1,000 residents27.0
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.
Webster County
Building permits in Webster County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 202428
- Declared construction value permitted$7.6 m
- Single family units authorized28
- Multifamily units authorized0
- Multifamily share of units0.0 percent
- Average declared value per unit$272,541
- Units authorized per 1,000 households1.8
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.
Webster County
SBA loans in Webster County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded14
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$8.3 m
- Average 7(a) approval$595,986
- Median 7(a) approval$260,000
- Largest single approval$2,227,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)99
- Jobs per approval7.1
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active8
- Distinct industries receiving approvals11
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer14.3 percent
- Loans on real estate terms2
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter10
- Franchise loans2
- Franchise share of approvals14.3 percent
- 504 approvals recorded16
- 504 gross approval dollars$11.6 m
- Average 504 approval$725,563
- Median 504 approval$530,500
- Distinct CDCs active4
- 504 jobs per approval13.0
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved17.9
- Most active CDCIowa Business Growth Company (9)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$20.0 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.
Webster County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Webster County
Do SBA loans in Webster County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded3
- Paid in full3
- Charged off0
- Status: Paid in full3
- Status: Exempt from disclosure10
- Status: Cancelled1
Only 3 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.
Webster County
SBA lending by place in Webster County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending7
- Fort Dodge, approvals6
- Moorland, approvals3
- Dayton, approvals1
- Saint Johns, approvals1
- Burnside, approvals1
- Harcourt, approvals1
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Fort Dodge | 6 | $5,980,100 |
| Moorland | 3 | $671,200 |
| Dayton | 1 | $924,000 |
| Saint Johns | 1 | $300,000 |
| Burnside | 1 | $245,000 |
| Harcourt | 1 | $150,000 |
| Vincent | 1 | $73,500 |
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Webster County
How large is Webster County?
- Land area716 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Iowa counties12th of 99
- Width, east to west26.1 mi
- Height, north to south30.1 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary7
- Residents per square mile of land52
- Establishments per square mile1.39
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.
Webster County
Flood risk in Webster County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Webster County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 190831
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book12
- Of those, participating in the NFIP12
- NFIP participation rate100.0 percent
- Communities carrying a CRS class0
- Radon levels in Webster 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 Webster County (community 190831), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries no Community Rating System class, so no CRS premium discount applies there. The EPA places Webster 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 Webster 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 Webster County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202436,886
- Households15,375
- Average household size2.40
- Median household income$68,975
- Median age39.7
Common questions
Webster County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Webster County, Iowa?
The Census Bureau estimates 36,909 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 36,886, in 15,375 households, ranking 18th of 99 Iowa counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Webster County's population growing?
The population has fallen 0.24 percent since the 2020 census base of 36,998, to 36,909 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 391 births against 445 deaths, with net migration of 310. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Webster County?
$68,975. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $153,800, which is 2.2 times income, and median gross rent is $785 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Webster County?
997 establishments, employing 16,146 people with an annual payroll of $792.0 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 Webster County?
Manufacturing is the largest private sector at 2,619 jobs, 14.9 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 17,547 jobs at an average annual pay of $56,709, or $1,091 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Webster County?
14 7(a) approvals totaling $8.3 m since FY2020, across 8 lenders, with a median approval of $260,000, plus 16 504 approvals worth $11.6 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Webster County?
28 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $7.6 m. Multifamily was 0.0 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Webster 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 Webster County come from?
The largest single origin is Polk County, with 79 households. Arriving households report an average income of $39,414 against $44,999 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Webster 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 Webster 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.
Webster County
Cities and places in Webster.
16 Census places lie wholly or partly in Webster 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Dodge | city | 24,827 | 6 | Wholly in this county |
| Gowrie | city | 932 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Stratford | city | 735 | None recorded | 34.3 percent here, 65.7 percent Hamilton County |
| Dayton | city | 689 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Coalville | CDP | 649 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Badger | city | 433 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Callender | city | 413 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Farnhamville | city | 386 | None recorded | 2.4 percent here, 97.6 percent Calhoun County |
| Otho | city | 380 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Duncombe | city | 376 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Lehigh | city | 340 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Barnum | city | 250 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Harcourt | city | 249 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Moorland | city | 166 | 3 | Wholly in this county |
| Vincent | city | 161 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Clare | city | 128 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
A further 2 of the county's 14 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Webster County, the largest being Saint Johns (1), Burnside (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.
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