All Countries
Alta, IA
Full City Profile · Iowa · Buena Vista County County
2.9
/5.0
C+
Fair
2,344
Population
2,170/sq mi density
$66,118
Median Income
$30,836 per capita
$125,800
Home Value
$206,560 Zillow
$915
Median Rent
36.0% income on rent
47°F
Avg Temperature
260 sunny days/yr
471
Violent Crime/100K
2,006 property/100K
C+
Overall
2.9 / 5.0
Fair overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
B
Economy
3.0 / 5.0
$66,118 median income, 13.4% unemployment
A+
Affordability
5.0 / 5.0
$125,800 home value, $915/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
471 violent crimes/100K (24% above avg)
C+
Education
2.6 / 5.0
20.5% bachelor's degree or higher
Income Overview
Median Household Income
$66,118
12% below
US avg: $75,149
Per Capita Income
$30,836
21% below
US avg: $39,052
Unemployment Rate
13.4%
272% above
US avg: 3.6%
Poverty Rate
7.0%
44% below
US avg: 12.4%
Income Comparison: Alta vs. U.S. Average
Each bar shows Alta’s value as a percentage of the national average (100% line = U.S. avg)
Median Household
US: $75,149
$66,118
88%
Per Capita
US: $39,052
$30,836
79%
IRS Avg AGI
US: $72,000
$67,827
94%
Avg Weekly Wage
US: $1,432
$1,036
72%
Thin line = U.S. average (100%)
Employment & Commute
Avg Weekly Wage
$1,036
28% below US avg ($1,432)
Mean Commute Time
14 min
49% below US avg (28 min)
Work From Home
4.5%
70% below US avg (15.2%)
Drive Alone
76.6%
5% above US avg (73.2%)
Public Transit
0.0%
100% below US avg (5.0%)
County GDP
$1,938M
County-level GDP (BEA 2024)
How Residents Get to Work
Drive Alone
76.6%
Public Transit
0%
Work From Home
4.5%
Other
18.9%
Average commute time
14 minutes
US avg: 28 min
Business Landscape
Total Establishments
610
Restaurants
38
Healthcare
48
Retail
82
Manufacturing
25
Tax & Financial
IRS Avg Adjusted Gross Income
$67,827
6% below US avg ($72,000)
Avg Property Tax
$5,292
51% above US avg ($3,500)
Cost of Living Index
87.8
Below national average (100 = US avg)
Complete Economy Data
Income & Wages
| Median Household Income | $66,118 |
| Per Capita Income | $30,836 |
| IRS Avg Adjusted Gross Income | $67,827 |
| Avg Weekly Wage | $1,036 |
| County GDP | $1,938M |
Hardship Indicators
| Unemployment Rate | 13.4% |
| Poverty Rate | 7.0% |
| Gini Coefficient | 0.417 |
| Cost of Living Index | 87.8 |
Commute
| Mean Commute | 14 minutes |
| Drive Alone | 76.6% |
| Public Transit | 0.0% |
| Work From Home | 4.5% |
Businesses
| Total Establishments | 610 |
| Restaurants | 38 |
| Healthcare | 48 |
| Retail | 82 |
| Manufacturing | 25 |
Tax
| IRS Avg AGI | $67,827 |
| Avg Property Tax | $5,292 |