Grimes: Economy & Jobs
Grimes reports a median household income of $120,037 (1.4× higher than Polk County median $83,576; 1.6× higher than Iowa median $75,059), with homes at a median value of $304,700. The surrounding county supports 55,258 jobs (avg $76,316).
- $126,108 avg taxable income per return — similar than the median household income (vs Iowa $84,771).
Income & Affordability
Median household income $120,037 — above the Iowa median ($66,270). Poverty rate 4.4% (U.S. average ~12.5%). 24% of renters spend more than half their income on rent ("severely cost-burdened" by HUD definition; U.S. ~24%).
| Affordability · Home Price To Income | 2.5× |
|---|---|
| Affordability · Home Affordability | affordable |
| Affordability · Rent Pct Income | 11.6% |
| Affordability · Rent Affordability | affordable |
| Affordability · Pct Severely Rent Burdened | 24.4% |
| Affordability · Poverty Rate | 4.4% |
| Affordability · Property Tax Pct Income | 4.5% |
| Irs Income · IRS tax returns filed | $51,740 |
| Irs Income · Total Adjusted Gross Income (thousands) | $6,524,833 |
| Irs Income · Average AGI per return | $126,108 (vs Iowa $84,771) |
| Irs Income · Year | 2022 |
| Income Estimate | $119,076 |
| Median Household Income | $120,037 (vs Iowa $66,270) |
| Poverty Rate | 4.4% |
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 | white_collar |
|---|---|
| Economic Character · Top Industry | Education Healthcare |
| Economic Character · Income Level | affluent |
| Economic Character · Median Income | $120,037 |
Employment & Workforce
Employment + workforce stats. The county-level employment count covers all jobs within the county, not just town residents. Unemployment rate 1.5% — below the U.S. average of ~4%. 22% work from home (U.S. average ~15%).
| Commuter Profile · Mean Commute Min | 19.60 |
|---|---|
| Commuter Profile · Work From Home Pct | 22.4% |
| Commuter Profile · Profile | short commute |
| Employment · Avg annual employment (county) | 55,258 |
| Employment · Total annual wages (county) | $4,217,110,415 |
| Employment · Average annual pay | $76,316 |
| 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 | 1.5% (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 | 67 |
|---|---|
| Agriculture · Land In Farms Acres | 38,016 |
| Agriculture · Avg Farm Size Acres | 567.40 |
| Agriculture · Top Commodities | Crop Totals, Grain, Corn, Animal Totals, Soybeans |
| Agriculture · Year | 2022 |
| Business Patterns · Establishments (employer count) | 2,446 |
| Business Patterns · Total Employees | 44,013 |
| Business Patterns · Annual Payroll Thousands | 2,990,536 |
| 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 | 12 |
|---|---|
| Local Businesses · Liquor Stores | 3 |
| Local Businesses · Gas Stations | 30 |
| Local Businesses · General Merchandise | 12 |
| Local Businesses · Clothing Stores | 17 |
| Local Businesses · Electronics Stores | 7 |
| Local Businesses · New Car Dealers | 6 |
| Local Businesses · Used Car Dealers | 10 |
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 | 67 |
|---|---|
| Dining Scene · Fast Food | 71 |
| Dining Scene · Bars | 16 |
| Dining Scene · Coffee Snacks | 19 |
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 (7)
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 (5)
| Nearest Snap · Name | Fareway Stores Inc. 983 |
|---|---|
| Nearest Snap · Total In Area | 17 |
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 | GRIMES 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 | $477,532,337 |
|---|---|
| Federal Spending · Per Capita | 4,790.75 (vs Iowa $7,013) |
| Federal Spending · Population | 99,678 people (vs Iowa 24,827) |
Sources: USAspending API
Other
| Pct Drove Alone | 65.1% |
|---|---|
| Pct Public Transit | 0.9% |
| Pct Walked | 22.4% |
| Retirement Score · Median age | 35.4 years (vs Iowa 37.3y) |
| Retirement Score · Ss Household Pct | 14.8% |
| 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