Lu Verne: Economy & Jobs
Lu Verne reports a median household income of $51,250 (1.3× below Kossuth County median $67,697; 1.5× below Iowa median $75,059), with homes at a median value of $61,700. The surrounding county supports 3,810 jobs (avg $52,721).
- $86,410 avg taxable income per return — higher than the median household income (vs Iowa $84,771).
Income & Affordability
Median household income $51,250 — below the Iowa median ($66,270). Poverty rate 24.2% (U.S. average ~12.5%). 46% of renters spend more than half their income on rent ("severely cost-burdened" by HUD definition; U.S. ~24%).
| Affordability · Home Price To Income | 1.2× |
|---|---|
| Affordability · Home Affordability | affordable |
| Affordability · Rent Pct Income | 20.7% |
| Affordability · Rent Affordability | affordable |
| Affordability · Pct Severely Rent Burdened | 46.2% |
| Affordability · Poverty Rate | 24.2% |
| Affordability · Property Tax Pct Income | 1.0% |
| Irs Income · IRS tax returns filed | $4,420 |
| Irs Income · Total Adjusted Gross Income (thousands) | $381,931 |
| Irs Income · Average AGI per return | $86,410 (vs Iowa $84,771) |
| Irs Income · Year | 2022 |
| Income Estimate | $64,573 |
| Median Household Income | $51,250 (vs Iowa $66,270) |
| Poverty Rate | 24.2% |
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 | mixed |
|---|---|
| Economic Character · Top Industry | Education Healthcare |
| Economic Character · Income Level | middle-class |
| Economic Character · Median Income | $51,250 |
Employment & Workforce
Employment + workforce stats. The county-level employment count covers all jobs within the county, not just town residents. Unemployment rate 2.1% — below the U.S. average of ~4%. 7% work from home (U.S. average ~15%).
| Commuter Profile · Work From Home Pct | 6.8% |
|---|---|
| Commuter Profile · Primary Mode | drove alone |
| Employment · Avg annual employment (county) | 3,810 |
| Employment · Total annual wages (county) | $200,855,413 |
| Employment · Average annual pay | $52,721 |
| 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 | 2.1% (vs Iowa 2.6%) |
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 | 6 |
|---|---|
| Agriculture · Land In Farms Acres | 8,743 |
| Agriculture · Avg Farm Size Acres | 1,457.20 |
| Agriculture · Top Commodities | Grain, Crop Totals, Corn, Animal Totals, Soybeans |
| Agriculture · Year | 2022 |
| Business Patterns · Establishments (employer count) | 302 |
| Business Patterns · Total Employees | 3,056 |
| Business Patterns · Annual Payroll Thousands | 153,015 |
| 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 | 3 |
|---|---|
| Local Businesses · Gas Stations | 7 |
| Local Businesses · General Merchandise | 3 |
| Local Businesses · Pet Grooming | 3 |
| Local Businesses · Real Estate Offices | 3 |
| Local Businesses · Commercial Banks | 6 |
| Local Businesses · Insurance Agencies | 11 |
| Local Businesses · Law Offices | 3 |
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 | 9 |
|---|---|
| Dining Scene · Fast Food | 5 |
| Dining Scene · Bars | 3 |
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 (4)
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 | Fareway Stores Inc. 703 |
|---|---|
| Nearest Snap · Distance | 2.0 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 | $61,411,306 |
|---|---|
| Federal Spending · Per Capita | 6,399.01 (vs Iowa $7,013) |
| Federal Spending · Population | 9,597 people (vs Iowa 24,827) |
Sources: USAspending API
Other
| Pct Drove Alone | 70.5% |
|---|---|
| Pct Public Transit | 5.5% |
| Pct Walked | 6.8% |
| Retirement Score · Median age | 33.4 years (vs Iowa 37.3y) |
| Retirement Score · Ss Household Pct | 35.6% |
| Retirement Score · Hospitals Nearby | 1 |
| Retirement Score · Va Access | Yes |
| Retirement Score · Factors | strong SS base, hospital access, VA nearby |
| Retirement Score · Rating | good |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12