In Allamakee County, Iowa, rent on a two-bedroom takes about one in six dollars of the typical household's income
In Allamakee County, 15.5% of the typical household's income would go to rent on a two-bedroom. That is lower than in 95% of U.S. counties.
Less distressed than 86% of U.S. counties.
What drives Allamakee County's score
In Allamakee County, jobs are the highest-scoring part, at 39.8. Late payments on loans are the lowest part, at 10.2.
The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in Allamakee County: jobs, late payments on loans, income and the safety net, collections and bankruptcy, and housing costs. Each part is scored from 0 to 100, and a higher score means worse off than other counties.
Allamakee County isn't among the worst-off quarter of U.S. counties on any measure.
A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.
- 39.8 of 100
Jobs
Biggest factorUnemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year4.5% · Oct 2025 to Sep 202663rd percentile
- Adults 25 to 54 not working15.0% · 2020 to 202415th percentile
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- 34.6 of 100
Housing costs
Renters, 2020–24 Census survey; HUD's fair market rents, fiscal year 2027
- Renters paying half their income or more in rent20.5% · 2020 to 202464th percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income15.5% · fiscal year 20275th or lower percentile
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- 34.0 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line10.5% · 202426th percentile
- Children below the poverty line16.5% · 202446th percentile
- People with a disability12.4% · 2020 to 202417th percentile
- People without health insurance7.0% · 2020 to 202442nd percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$71,728 · 202436th percentile
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- 16.7 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector10.7% · August 20255th percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people85.3 · 202528th percentile
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- 10.2 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind1.7% · August 20255th or lower percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behind1.4% · August 20255th or lower percentile
- People with a subprime credit score32.3% · second quarter of 202620th percentile
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Sources: Urban Institute, Debt in America; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey; U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Fair Market Rents and Census income; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. County Distress Index by American Default Research, from data through Sep 2026.
Where the money in Allamakee County comes from
Benefit checks are Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid paid on people's behalf, veterans' benefits, and food and income support, so a high share usually means an older population, low pay, or both. In Allamakee County, 23.1% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally that year.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
Allamakee County
Iowa
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
In Allamakee County, benefit checks' share of income has more than doubled since 1969, reaching 24.2% in 2024, but pay from work still brings in more than twice as much as benefit checks
In Allamakee County, Iowa, benefit checks' share of income more than doubled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 24.2%; pay from work is plotted alongside. Every fifth year and 2024 are shown.
- Benefit checks
- Pay from work
The share of households in Allamakee County getting SNAP food aid had its largest drop, from 9.4% in 2019 to 7.4% in 2020.
The share of households in Allamakee County getting SNAP food aid was at its highest on the chart in 2017 and has since fallen by about a quarter
Low on the chart: 6.4% in 2021. Households getting SNAP, every year; each bar is a five-year survey estimate ending that year, so neighboring bars share most of their data, Allamakee County, Iowa.
How Allamakee County has changed
Allamakee County's population fell 6% from 1969 to 2024, with most of the change between 1984 and 1989
High on the chart: 15,382 in 1979. Residents, yearly estimate, every fifth year and 2024, Allamakee County, Iowa.
The number of jobs located in Allamakee County rose most sharply from its first year (4,583 in 1990) to 5,198 in 1995.
The number of jobs located in Allamakee County was at its highest on the chart in 2005 and is down 14% since
High on the chart: 5,565 in 2005. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, Allamakee County, Iowa.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 5.7% | 2025 4.2% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 11.8% | 2024 10.5% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1989 $21,719 | 2024 $71,728 |
The table uses 4.2% for 2025; the score uses 4.5% for the latest year (Oct 2025 to Sep 2026), both from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Figures are as each agency published them, not adjusted for prices.
Dated events in Allamakee County's history
1847
Formed February 20, 1847. Wikipedia
1900
The county's largest recorded population was the 1900 Census count of 18,711. The 2020 Census counted 14,061, 75% of the peak. Census Bureau
1937
Mississippi Valley Iron Company mine shut down in 1918 and never recovered; equipment sold for scrap in 1937. Wikipedia
1987
A tornado in July 1987 did $2.5 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2008
A flash flood in June 2008 did $2 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2008
A flood in June 2008 did $1.25 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2013
A flash flood in June 2013 did $6.4 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
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Since 1965
22 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Allamakee County, 19 of them for flooding. FEMA
Allamakee County beside its neighbors
Of the five counties that border Allamakee County, in Iowa, Wisconsin and Minnesota, one scores higher. For the share of income from benefit checks, Allamakee County ranks 3rd of the six; Crawford County is highest, at 29.6%.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crawford County, WI | 19 | 12.9% | 29.6% |
| Vernon County, WI | 13 | 11.6% | 26.1% |
| Allamakee County, IA | 13 | 10.5% | 24.2% |
| Houston County, MN | 10 | 8.6% | 23.6% |
| Clayton County, IA | 7 | 9.7% | 23.8% |
| Winneshiek County, IA | 0 | 8.9% | 20.7% |
Distress score: American Default Research, County Distress Index, data through Sep 2026; each county scored against all 3,144. Poverty rate: Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates, 2024. Benefit checks: Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024. Neighbors share a border, from Census county maps.
Is Allamakee County the poorest county in Iowa?
No, Allamakee County's poverty rate was 10.5% in 2024, 56th highest of 99 in Iowa (U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates). By that measure the poorest county in the state is Decatur County, at 18.1%. On our distress index, which counts more than poverty, Allamakee County ranks 46th of 99 in the state.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Allamakee County
Housing counselors approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development work at nonprofit agencies. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau describes free foreclosure-avoidance counseling, including help with mortgage-company conversations and available options Source CFPB.
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Iowa Legal Aid
Legal aid
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HUD-approved housing counselors
Our help directory lists 1,010 agencies approved for foreclosure counseling, by state.
The score, its 14 measures and their sources, in one file. Free to use with credit to American Default Research.
Download the CSV for Allamakee County · Every U.S. county (CSV)
Sources and method
- American Default Research · County Distress Index Data through Sep 2026, built from Urban Institute, Debt in America; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; Census Bureau, American Community Survey; HUD Fair Market Rents and Census income; Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. The County Distress Index is American Default Research's own calculation; the Urban Institute does not produce or endorse it. Our methodology
- Urban Institute · Debt in America Breno Braga, Signe-Mary McKernan, Samantha Atherton, and Kassandra Martinchek, "Debt in America," last updated November 20, 2025, https://datacatalog.urban.org/dataset/debt-america-2025. Licensed under ODC-By 1.0.
- Rent on a two-bedroom and household income The rent share compares HUD fair market rent for fiscal year 2027 with Census Bureau median household income for 2024. The page calls this the typical household's income.
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Economic Accounts (CAINC4) · income shares Where the money in Allamakee County comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.