In Henry County, Iowa, rent on a two-bedroom takes about one in six dollars of the typical household's income
In Henry County, 16.6% of the typical household's income would go to rent on a two-bedroom. That is lower than in 89% of U.S. counties.
Less distressed than 82% of U.S. counties.
What drives Henry County's score
In Henry County, income and the safety net is the highest-scoring part, at 40.0. Jobs are the lowest part, at 16.8. About one in seven adults aged 25 to 54 (14.2%, 2020 to 2024) isn't working, a lower share than in 87% of U.S. counties.
The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in Henry 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.
Henry 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.
- 40.0 of 100
Income and safety net
Biggest factorPoverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line12.9% · 202447th percentile
- Children below the poverty line15.9% · 202443rd percentile
- People with a disability16.1% · 2020 to 202451st percentile
- People without health insurance4.7% · 2020 to 202415th percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$69,313 · 202442nd percentile
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- 34.4 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 rent19.5% · 2020 to 202458th percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income16.6% · fiscal year 202710th percentile
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- 31.5 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind3.5% · August 202519th percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behind4.5% · August 202539th percentile
- People with a subprime credit score36.4% · second quarter of 202634th percentile
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- 31.3 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector18.7% · August 202533rd percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people87 · 202529th percentile
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- 16.8 of 100
Jobs
Unemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year3.3% · Oct 2025 to Sep 202620th percentile
- Adults 25 to 54 not working14.2% · 2020 to 202412th 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 Henry 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 Henry County, 20.2% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally that year.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
Henry County
Iowa
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
In Henry County, benefit checks' share of income has tripled since 1969, reaching 26.8% in 2024, but pay from work still brings in twice as much as benefit checks
In Henry County, Iowa, benefit checks' share of income tripled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 26.8%; pay from work is plotted alongside. Every fifth year and 2024 are shown.
- Benefit checks
- Pay from work
The share of households in Henry County getting SNAP food aid had its largest drop, from 11.9% in 2013 to 9.7% in 2014.
The share of households in Henry County getting SNAP food aid was at its highest on the chart in 2011 and has since fallen to 9.0%
Low on the chart: 8.8% in 2023. Households getting SNAP, every year; each bar is a five-year survey estimate ending that year, so neighboring bars share most of their data, Henry County, Iowa.
How Henry County has changed
Henry County's population had its largest drop in the last span, from 20,513 in 2019 to 19,361 in 2024.
Henry County's population rose 13% from 1969 to 2019, then turned down in 2024
High on the chart: 20,513 in 2019. Residents, yearly estimate, every fifth year and 2024, Henry County, Iowa.
The number of jobs located in Henry County had its largest drop, from 10,757 in 2005 to 8,995 in 2010.
The number of jobs located in Henry County was at its highest on the chart in 2000 and has since fallen by about a quarter
High on the chart: 11,019 in 2000. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, Henry County, Iowa.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 3.6% | 2025 3.5% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 9.1% | 2024 12.9% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1989 $26,169 | 2024 $69,313 |
The table uses 3.5% for 2025; the score uses 3.3% 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 Henry County's history
1836
Founded December 7, 1836, under the jurisdiction of Wisconsin Territory. Wikipedia
1861
Mount Pleasant Mental Health Institute built in 1861. Wikipedia
2000
A flood in June 2000 killed one person. NOAA Storm Events Database
2003
A tornado in May 2003 did $1 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2020
The county's largest recorded population was the 2020 Census count of 20,482, which is also its most recent census. Census Bureau
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Since 1969
16 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Henry County, 12 of them for flooding. FEMA
Henry County beside its neighbors
Of the six counties that border Henry County, four score higher. For the share of income from benefit checks, Henry County ranks 4th of the seven; Van Buren County is highest, at 30.5%.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines County, IA | 57 | 14.0% | 25.5% |
| Jefferson County, IA | 46 | 14.0% | 27.1% |
| Van Buren County, IA | 40 | 16.8% | 30.5% |
| Lee County, IA | 38 | 13.7% | 30.2% |
| Henry County, IA | 17 | 12.9% | 26.8% |
| Louisa County, IA | 15 | 9.5% | 24.2% |
| Washington County, IA | 4 | 9.0% | 16.2% |
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 Henry County the poorest county in Iowa?
No, Henry County's poverty rate was 12.9% in 2024, 22nd 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, Henry County ranks 36th of 99 in the state.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Henry 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.
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 Henry County comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.