St. Olaf: Economy & Jobs
Median household income in St. Olaf is $98,125 (1.5× higher than Clayton County median $67,242; 1.3× higher than Iowa median $75,837), with homes at a median value of $84,000. The surrounding county supports 6,230 jobs (avg $51,349).
- $70,538 avg taxable income per return — lower than the median household income.
Income & Affordability
Median household income $98,125 — above the Iowa median ($75,836). Poverty rate 8.1% (U.S. average ~12.5%). 29% of renters spend more than half their income on rent ("severely cost-burdened" by HUD definition; U.S. ~24%).
| Affordability · Home Price To Income | 0.9× |
|---|---|
| Affordability · Home Affordability | affordable |
| Affordability · Rent Pct Income | 9.5% |
| Affordability · Rent Affordability | affordable |
| Affordability · Pct Severely Rent Burdened | 28.6% |
| Affordability · Poverty Rate | 8.1% |
| Affordability · Property Tax Pct Income | 1.3% |
| Irs Income · IRS tax returns filed | $8,200 |
| Irs Income · Total Adjusted Gross Income (thousands) | $578,415 |
| Irs Income · Average AGI per return | $70,538 |
| Irs Income · Year | 2022 |
| Income Estimate | $101,132 |
| Median Household Income | $98,125 (vs Iowa $75,837) |
| Poverty Rate | 8.1% |
Sources: IRS SOI 2022 · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Economic Character
Qualitative classification derived from Census occupation, industry, and income data — workforce composition (white-collar/blue-collar), top employing sector, and income tier.
| Economic Character · Workforce | blue_collar |
|---|---|
| Economic Character · Top Industry | Education Healthcare |
| Economic Character · Income Level | upper-middle |
| Economic Character · Median Income | $98,125 |
Employment & Workforce
Employment + workforce stats. The county-level employment count covers all jobs within the county, not just town residents. Unemployment rate 4.3% — near the U.S. average of ~4%.
| Commuter Profile · Primary Mode | drove alone |
|---|---|
| Commuter Profile · Mean Commute Min | 17.80 |
| Commuter Profile · Profile | moderate commute |
| Employment · Avg annual employment (county) | 6,230 |
| Employment · Total annual wages (county) | $319,896,205 |
| Employment · Average annual pay | $51,349 |
| Employment · Year | 2024 |
| State Occupation Wages · Year | 2023 |
| State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Soc Code | 00-0000 |
| State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Title | All Occupations |
| State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Employment | 1,544,760 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3% (vs Iowa 3.8%) |
Sources: BLS QCEW 2023 · BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Industry Sectors
Major industries by establishment count from Census County Business Patterns (2022). Sectors are NAICS-coded; counts are county-wide employer establishments.
| Agriculture · Total Farms | 21 |
|---|---|
| Agriculture · Land In Farms Acres | 406,023 |
| Agriculture · Avg Farm Size Acres | 19,334.40 |
| Agriculture · Top Commodities | Animal Totals, Crop Totals, Grain, Corn, Hogs |
| Agriculture · Year | 2022 |
| Business Patterns · Establishments (employer count) | 503 |
| Business Patterns · Total Employees | 4,999 |
| Business Patterns · Annual Payroll Thousands | 229,032 |
| Business Patterns · Year | 2022 |
Sources: USDA NASS Census 2022 — county FIPS matched · Census CBP API — county FIPS match
Local Business Mix
Retail and service businesses by category (Census CBP NAICS-coded). Counts cover the surrounding county, not just the town. Reflects the everyday commercial mix residents can access.
| Local Businesses · Grocery Stores | 5 |
|---|---|
| Local Businesses · Gas Stations | 12 |
| Local Businesses · General Merchandise | 5 |
| Local Businesses · New Car Dealers | 5 |
| Local Businesses · Used Car Dealers | 3 |
| Local Businesses · Florists | 3 |
| Local Businesses · Beauty Salons | 4 |
| Local Businesses · Auto Repair | 7 |
Sources: Census CBP — NAICS detail codes
Dining Scene
Eating + drinking establishments by NAICS category (Census CBP 2022) — full-service restaurants, fast-food, bars, coffee shops. County-level counts.
| Dining Scene · Full Service Restaurants | 25 |
|---|---|
| Dining Scene · Fast Food | 8 |
| Dining Scene · Bars | 4 |
| Dining Scene · Coffee Snacks | 5 |
Sources: Census CBP NAICS 722
Banking
FDIC-insured bank branches with addresses. Branch density correlates with population — fewer branches per resident in lower-density areas.
Branches (8)
SNAP & Food Access
USDA-authorized SNAP retailers — supermarkets, super stores, convenience stores, and other locations where SNAP benefits can be redeemed. Per-1K density tracks food access.
Sample (1)
| Nearest Snap · Name | Dollar General 8341 |
|---|---|
| Nearest Snap · Distance | 6.9 mi |
Sources: USDA SNAP — nearest by coordinates
Chamber of Commerce
IRS-registered chamber of commerce organizations matched to this town. Reflects the IRS Exempt Organizations BMF; some chambers operate informally and may not appear here.
| Chamber Of Commerce · Name | ALGONA AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE |
|---|
Sources: IRS EO BMF · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Spending & Tax
Federal spending flowing to the surrounding county — direct payments, grants, contracts, loans (USAspending.gov).
| Federal Spending · Federal Spending Fy2024 | $140,728,241 |
|---|---|
| Federal Spending · Per Capita | 8,257.25 |
| Federal Spending · Population | 17,043 people |
Sources: USAspending API
Other
| Pct Drove Alone | 90.0% |
|---|---|
| Retirement Score · Median age | 51.5 years (vs Iowa 38.8y) |
| Retirement Score · Ss Household Pct | 25.6% |
| Retirement Score · Hospitals Nearby | 2 |
| Retirement Score · Va Access | Yes |
| Retirement Score · Factors | older population, hospital access, VA nearby |
| Retirement Score · Rating | good |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12