Lenox: Economy & Jobs
Median household income in Lenox is $61,000 (1.1× below Taylor County median $67,740; 1.2× below Iowa median $75,059), with homes at a median value of $111,400. The surrounding county supports 1,187 jobs (avg $49,596).
- $59,892 avg taxable income per return — similar than the median household income (vs Iowa $84,771).
Income & Affordability
Median household income $61,000 — below the Iowa median ($66,270). Poverty rate 11.3% (U.S. average ~12.5%). 33% of renters spend more than half their income on rent ("severely cost-burdened" by HUD definition; U.S. ~24%).
| Affordability · Home Price To Income | 1.8× |
|---|---|
| Affordability · Home Affordability | affordable |
| Affordability · Rent Pct Income | 14.9% |
| Affordability · Rent Affordability | affordable |
| Affordability · Pct Severely Rent Burdened | 33.3% |
| Affordability · Poverty Rate | 11.3% |
| Affordability · Property Tax Pct Income | 2.5% |
| Irs Income · IRS tax returns filed | $1,700 |
| Irs Income · Total Adjusted Gross Income (thousands) | $101,816 |
| Irs Income · Average AGI per return | $59,892 (vs Iowa $84,771) |
| Irs Income · Year | 2022 |
| Income Estimate | $68,086 |
| Median Household Income | $61,000 (vs Iowa $66,270) |
| Poverty Rate | 11.3% |
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 | Manufacturing |
| Economic Character · Income Level | middle-class |
| Economic Character · Median Income | $61,000 |
Employment & Workforce
Employment + workforce stats. The county-level employment count covers all jobs within the county, not just town residents. Unemployment rate 0.8% — below the U.S. average of ~4%. 3% work from home (U.S. average ~15%).
| Commuter Profile · Work From Home Pct | 2.7% |
|---|---|
| Commuter Profile · Primary Mode | drove alone |
| Employment · Avg annual employment (county) | 1,187 |
| Employment · Total annual wages (county) | $58,866,066 |
| Employment · Average annual pay | $49,596 |
| 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 | 0.8% (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 | 31 |
|---|---|
| Agriculture · Land In Farms Acres | 248,630 |
| Agriculture · Avg Farm Size Acres | 8,020.30 |
| Agriculture · Top Commodities | Crop Totals, Grain, Corn, Animal Totals, Cattle |
| Agriculture · Year | 2022 |
| Business Patterns · Establishments (employer count) | 104 |
| Business Patterns · Total Employees | 1,194 |
| Business Patterns · Annual Payroll Thousands | 51,712 |
| 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 · Beauty Salons | 3 |
|---|---|
| Local Businesses · Insurance Agencies | 4 |
| Local Businesses · Full Service Restaurants | 3 |
| Local Businesses · Fast Food | 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 | 3 |
|---|---|
| Dining Scene · Fast Food | 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 (2)
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 (2)
| Nearest Snap · Name | Casey's General Store 2834 |
|---|---|
| Nearest Snap · Total In Area | 2 |
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 | ADAMS COMMUNITY 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 | $31,284,865 |
|---|---|
| Federal Spending · Per Capita | 8,446.24 (vs Iowa $7,013) |
| Federal Spending · Population | 3,704 people (vs Iowa 24,827) |
Sources: USAspending API
Other
| Pct Drove Alone | 77.1% |
|---|---|
| Pct Public Transit | 1.1% |
| Pct Walked | 2.7% |
| Retirement Score · Median age | 37.5 years (at Iowa median) |
| Retirement Score · Ss Household Pct | 34.8% |
| 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