St. Charles: Economy & Jobs
St. Charles's typical household earns $82,841 (1.1× below Madison County median $90,855; 1.1× higher than Iowa median $75,837), with homes at a median value of $221,300. The surrounding county supports 4,235 jobs (avg $50,189).
- $86,906 avg taxable income per return — similar than the median household income.
Income & Affordability
Median household income $82,841 — above the Iowa median ($75,836). Poverty rate 7.5% (U.S. average ~12.5%). 10% of renters spend more than half their income on rent ("severely cost-burdened" by HUD definition; U.S. ~24%).
| Affordability · Home Price To Income | 2.7× |
|---|---|
| Affordability · Home Affordability | affordable |
| Affordability · Rent Pct Income | 13.6% |
| Affordability · Rent Affordability | affordable |
| Affordability · Pct Severely Rent Burdened | 10.2% |
| Affordability · Poverty Rate | 7.5% |
| Affordability · Property Tax Pct Income | 3.5% |
| Irs Income · IRS tax returns filed | $7,810 |
| Irs Income · Total Adjusted Gross Income (thousands) | $678,736 |
| Irs Income · Average AGI per return | $86,906 |
| Irs Income · Year | 2022 |
| Income Estimate | $93,376 |
| Median Household Income | $82,841 (vs Iowa $75,837) |
| Poverty Rate | 7.5% |
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 | upper-middle |
| Economic Character · Median Income | $82,841 |
Employment & Workforce
Employment + workforce stats. The county-level employment count covers all jobs within the county, not just town residents. Unemployment rate 2.4% — below the U.S. average of ~4%. 12% work from home (U.S. average ~15%).
| Commuter Profile · Mean Commute Min | 36.40 |
|---|---|
| Commuter Profile · Work From Home Pct | 12.0% |
| Commuter Profile · Profile | long commute / bedroom community |
| Employment · Avg annual employment (county) | 4,235 |
| Employment · Total annual wages (county) | $212,544,326 |
| Employment · Average annual pay | $50,189 |
| 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 | 2.4% (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 | 47 |
|---|---|
| Agriculture · Land In Farms Acres | 199,735 |
| Agriculture · Avg Farm Size Acres | 4,249.70 |
| Agriculture · Top Commodities | Crop Totals, Grain, Corn, Animal Totals, Hogs |
| Agriculture · Year | 2022 |
| Business Patterns · Establishments (employer count) | 429 |
| Business Patterns · Total Employees | 2,798 |
| Business Patterns · Annual Payroll Thousands | 117,949 |
| 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 · Florists | 3 |
| Local Businesses · Beauty Salons | 3 |
| Local Businesses · Auto Repair | 4 |
| Local Businesses · Real Estate Offices | 9 |
| Local Businesses · Commercial Banks | 9 |
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 · Coffee Snacks | 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 | Maverik 5029 |
|---|---|
| Nearest Snap · Total In Area | 13 |
Sources: USDA SNAP — county FIPS aggregate
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 | FORT MADISON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE INC |
|---|
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 | $92,462,507 |
|---|---|
| Federal Spending · Per Capita | 5,587.53 |
| Federal Spending · Population | 16,548 people |
Sources: USAspending API
Other
| Pct Drove Alone | 68.7% |
|---|---|
| Pct Public Transit | 0.8% |
| Pct Walked | 12.0% |
| Retirement Score · Median age | 36.2 years (vs Iowa 38.8y) |
| Retirement Score · Ss Household Pct | 20.1% |
| Retirement Score · Hospitals Nearby | 1 |
| Retirement Score · Va Access | Yes |
| Retirement Score · Factors | hospital access, VA nearby |
| Retirement Score · Rating | fair |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12