At a Glance
Median Income
$47,426
$30,238 per capita
Home Value
$113,600
Zillow: $194,895
Median Rent
$913/mo
25.8% of income on rent
Bachelor's Degree+
10.5%
84.1% high school+
Unemployment
6.9%
12.1% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
40.6%
16.9% smoking rate
How Emerson Compares to the U.S. Average
Each bar shows Emerson's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)
Is Emerson a Good Place to Live?
B
3.2 / 5.0 - Good
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.
Economy & Jobs
Emerson residents earn a median household income of $47,426 , which is 37% below the national average of $75,149.
Per capita income is $30,238. The unemployment rate stands at 6.9% (92% above the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 12.1% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 458 business establishments, including 21 restaurants.
Housing & Cost of Living
The median home value in Emerson is $113,600 , 60% below the national median of $281,900.
Zillow estimates the typical home at $194,895. Median rent is $913/month, with 25.8% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 87.8 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1938.
Education
10.5% of adults in Emerson hold a bachelor's degree or higher
(69% below the national average).
84.1% have completed high school. Local schools score 6.2/10 in standardized testing.
Climate & Weather
Emerson has an average annual temperature of 51°F (10°C).
Winters average 23°F in January while summers reach 76°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 34.9 inches.
Data Overview
People
Population547
Median Age45.1 yrs
Density2,104/mi²
Male / Female49% / 51%
Foreign Born2.0%
Veterans12.6%
Economy
C+
Median Income$47,426
Per Capita$30,238
Unemployment6.9%
Poverty12.1%
County GDP$645M
Avg Weekly Wage$1,059
Housing
A+
Home Value$113,600
Rent$913
Ownership80.3%
Zillow$194,895
Housing Units253
Rent Burden25.8%
Health
Obesity40.6%
Diabetes9.6%
Smoking16.9%
Heart Disease5.6%
Premature Death9,695/100K
Climate
Avg Temp51°F
Rain34.9 in/yr
Elevation1,067 ft
Education
D
Bachelor's+10.5%
High School+84.1%
Graduate+2.5%
School Score6.2/10
Community
2024 VoteR 69% / D 30%
Commute27 min
Broadband83.7%
Internet Speed57 Mbps
EV Stations1
Libraries4
Did You Know?
The median home in Emerson was built in 1938.
The nearest airport is Eppley Airfield (32 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.435 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Very Low" by FEMA.
22.1% of the population has a disability.
The county recorded 5 fatal vehicle crashes.
91 declared natural disasters on record.