Unemployment in Jefferson County, Iowa, is lower than in 77% of U.S. counties
In Jefferson County, 3.3% of the labor force was out of work, on average. That is lower than in 77% of U.S. counties.
Less distressed than 53% of U.S. counties.
What drives Jefferson County's score
In Jefferson County, housing costs are the highest-scoring part, at 63.2. Late payments on loans are the lowest part, at 21.1. People with a car or retail loan behind: 3.0%, August 2025, lower than in 85% of U.S. counties.
The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in Jefferson 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.
Even so, Jefferson County is worse off than most counties on adults 25 to 54 not working (31.1%, 2020 to 2024) and renters paying half their income or more in rent (22.8%, 2020 to 2024).
A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.
- 63.2 of 100
Housing costs
Biggest factorRenters, 2020–24 Census survey; HUD's fair market rents, fiscal year 2027
- Renters paying half their income or more in rent22.8% · 2020 to 202477th percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income20.6% · fiscal year 202749th percentile
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- 56.5 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 202621st percentile
- Adults 25 to 54 not working31.1% · 2020 to 202491st percentile
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- 50.7 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector17.8% · August 202529th percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people187.8 · 202571st percentile
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- 48.1 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line14.0% · 202456th percentile
- Children below the poverty line19.0% · 202460th percentile
- People with a disability13.4% · 2020 to 202425th percentile
- People without health insurance6.7% · 2020 to 202439th percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$63,788 · 202458th percentile
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- 21.1 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind3.8% · August 202522nd percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behind3.0% · August 202514th percentile
- People with a subprime credit score34.2% · second quarter of 202626th 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 Jefferson 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 Jefferson County, 26.7% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally that year.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
Jefferson County
Iowa
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
In Jefferson County, benefit checks' share of income has tripled since 1969, reaching 27.1% in 2024, but pay from work still brings in nearly twice as much as benefit checks
In Jefferson County, Iowa, benefit checks' share of income tripled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 27.1%; pay from work is plotted alongside. Every fifth year and 2024 are shown.
- Benefit checks
- Pay from work
The share of households in Jefferson County getting SNAP food aid had its largest drop in the last span, from 16.2% in 2023 to 12.9% in 2024.
The share of households in Jefferson County getting SNAP food aid was at its highest on the chart in 2021 and has since fallen by about a quarter
Low on the chart: 10.3% in 2010. Households getting SNAP, every year; each bar is a five-year survey estimate ending that year, so neighboring bars share most of their data, Jefferson County, Iowa.
How Jefferson County has changed
Jefferson County's population rose most sharply after its 1974 low, from 14,649 in 1974 to 16,259 in 1979.
Jefferson County's population was about the same in 2024 as in 1969
High on the chart: 16,782 in 2009. Residents, yearly estimate, every fifth year and 2024, Jefferson County, Iowa.
The number of jobs located in Jefferson County had its largest drop, from 8,526 in 2000 to 7,489 in 2005.
The number of jobs located in Jefferson County was at its highest on the chart in 2000 and is down 17% since
High on the chart: 8,526 in 2000. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, Jefferson County, Iowa.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 4.3% | 2025 3.6% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 13.6% | 2024 14.0% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1989 $23,627 | 2024 $63,788 |
The table uses 3.6% 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 Jefferson County's history
1893
First Carnegie Library west of Mississippi completed in Fairfield in 1893. Wikipedia
1900
The county's largest recorded population was the 1900 Census count of 17,437. The 2020 Census counted 15,663, 90% of the peak. Census Bureau
1982
A tornado in September 1982 did $2.5 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
1988
A tornado in May 1988 did $25 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
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Since 1965
12 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Jefferson County, 7 of them for flooding. FEMA
Jefferson County beside its neighbors
Of the five counties that border Jefferson County, one scores higher. For the share of income from benefit checks, Jefferson County ranks 3rd of the six; Van Buren County is highest, at 30.5%.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wapello County, IA | 63 | 15.6% | 30.3% |
| Jefferson County, IA | 46 | 14.0% | 27.1% |
| Van Buren County, IA | 40 | 16.8% | 30.5% |
| Keokuk County, IA | 24 | 11.5% | 25.7% |
| Henry County, IA | 17 | 12.9% | 26.8% |
| 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 Jefferson County the poorest county in Iowa?
No, Jefferson County's poverty rate was 14.0% in 2024, 11th 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, Jefferson County ranks 6th of 99 in the state.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Jefferson 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 Jefferson 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 Jefferson County comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.