All Countries
Elma, IA
Full City Profile · Iowa · Howard County County
2.6
/5.0
C+
Fair
618
Population
502/sq mi density
$41,528
Median Income
$22,565 per capita
$71,400
Home Value
$209,483 Zillow
$668
Median Rent
40.2% income on rent
45°F
Avg Temperature
246 sunny days/yr
140
Violent Crime/100K
644 property/100K
C+
Overall
2.6 / 5.0
Fair overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
C+
Economy
2.6 / 5.0
$41,528 median income, 1.2% unemployment
A+
Affordability
5.0 / 5.0
$71,400 home value, $668/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
140 violent crimes/100K
D
Education
1.9 / 5.0
11.7% bachelor's degree or higher
Income Overview
Median Household Income
$41,528
45% below
US avg: $75,149
Per Capita Income
$22,565
42% below
US avg: $39,052
Unemployment Rate
1.2%
67% below
US avg: 3.6%
Poverty Rate
31.3%
152% above
US avg: 12.4%
Income Comparison: Elma vs. U.S. Average
Each bar shows Elma’s value as a percentage of the national average (100% line = U.S. avg)
Median Household
US: $75,149
$41,528
55%
Per Capita
US: $39,052
$22,565
58%
IRS Avg AGI
US: $72,000
$65,702
91%
Avg Weekly Wage
US: $1,432
$927
65%
Thin line = U.S. average (100%)
Employment & Commute
Avg Weekly Wage
$927
35% below US avg ($1,432)
Mean Commute Time
25 min
9% below US avg (28 min)
Work From Home
5.5%
64% below US avg (15.2%)
Drive Alone
79.3%
8% above US avg (73.2%)
Public Transit
0.0%
100% below US avg (5.0%)
County GDP
$727M
County-level GDP (BEA 2024)
How Residents Get to Work
Drive Alone
79.3%
Public Transit
0%
Work From Home
5.5%
Other
15.2%
Average commute time
25 minutes
US avg: 28 min
Business Landscape
Total Establishments
341
Restaurants
17
Healthcare
22
Retail
49
Manufacturing
25
Tax & Financial
IRS Avg Adjusted Gross Income
$65,702
9% below US avg ($72,000)
Avg Property Tax
$2,607
26% below US avg ($3,500)
Cost of Living Index
87.8
Below national average (100 = US avg)
Complete Economy Data
Income & Wages
| Median Household Income | $41,528 |
| Per Capita Income | $22,565 |
| IRS Avg Adjusted Gross Income | $65,702 |
| Avg Weekly Wage | $927 |
| County GDP | $727M |
Hardship Indicators
| Unemployment Rate | 1.2% |
| Poverty Rate | 31.3% |
| Gini Coefficient | 0.419 |
| Cost of Living Index | 87.8 |
Commute
| Mean Commute | 25 minutes |
| Drive Alone | 79.3% |
| Public Transit | 0.0% |
| Work From Home | 5.5% |
Businesses
| Total Establishments | 341 |
| Restaurants | 17 |
| Healthcare | 22 |
| Retail | 49 |
| Manufacturing | 25 |
Tax
| IRS Avg AGI | $65,702 |
| Avg Property Tax | $2,607 |