CountyScore

Cass County

Iowa · IA

#80 in Iowa
66.5
County Score

County Report Card

About Cass County, Iowa

Above median but with significant gaps

Cass County's composite score of 66.5 exceeds the national median of 50.0 by 33%, showing above-average livability despite being the weakest performer in this eight-county group. The score reflects challenges in income and economic stability that pull down an otherwise affordable county.

Below Iowa average livability

Cass County's 66.5 score falls below Iowa's state average of 69.3, placing it in the lower tier of Iowa counties analyzed. It lags noticeably on income and risk metrics compared to neighboring counties.

Housing costs are notably low

Cass County's cost score of 82.8 is solid, with a median home value of $133,300 and rent averaging $769/month. This affordability is one of the county's few bright spots for cost-conscious households.

Income and economic risk are serious concerns

Cass County's income score of 23.6 and risk score of 40.0 are the lowest in this entire sample, with a median household income of just $61,657 and significant economic fragility. These metrics suggest limited job quality and employment security.

Only for those accepting economic uncertainty

Cass County is best suited for retirees with stable pensions or investments who need ultra-low housing costs and can tolerate economic instability. The weak income and risk scores make it unsuitable for working families seeking career growth or economic advancement.

Score breakdown

5 dimensions have live data. 3 more coming as vertical sites launch.

Tax62.1Cost82.8SafetyComing SoonHealth72.2SchoolsComing SoonIncome23.6Risk40WaterComing Soon
🏛62.1
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠82.8
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼23.6
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤72.2
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡40
Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index — flood, fire, tornado, and more
RiskByCounty →
💧Coming Soon
Water Quality
EPA drinking water health violations and safety grades

Explore this county

Property Taxtaxbycounty.comCost of Livingcostbycounty.comIncomeincomebycounty.com
Compare Cass County with another county →

Counties with similar scores

Seminole County
Georgia
66.5
Median income: $49,559
Monroe County
Illinois
66.5
Median income: $101,635
White County
Illinois
66.5
Median income: $53,097
Crawford County
Iowa
66.5
Median income: $65,039
Marion County
Kansas
66.5
Median income: $63,438

Deep Dives

Cass County across the ByCounty Network

Detailed analysis from 5 data dimensions — each powered by a dedicated ByCounty site.

Property Tax in Cass County

via TaxByCounty

Cass County's tax rate above national average

Cass County's effective tax rate of 1.428% exceeds the national median, placing it in the upper quarter of American tax jurisdictions. The median property tax of $1,904 remains below the national median of $2,690, but Cass's higher effective rate means homeowners pay a steeper percentage on lower-valued properties.

Highest tax rate among surveyed Iowa counties

Cass County ranks at the top of Iowa counties surveyed for effective tax rates at 1.428%, significantly above the state average of 1.344%. Its median annual tax of $1,904 is moderate statewide, but the county's elevated rate warrants attention from budget-conscious homeowners.

Steepest tax burden in the immediate region

Cass County's 1.428% effective rate tops all surveyed neighbors, including Butler County (1.379%), Bremer County (1.349%), and Carroll County (1.052%). This represents the highest property tax rate in the region.

Annual property taxes average $1,904

A homeowner with Cass's median-valued $133,300 home pays approximately $1,904 annually in property taxes—$1,816 with a mortgage, $2,019 without. Monthly property tax costs average around $159 for typical households.

High rates make assessment appeals critical

With Cass County's above-average tax rate, an overassessment has magnified financial impact on homeowners' budgets. Filing an assessment appeal with the county assessor is essential to ensure you're not overpaying for property taxes.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in Cass County

via CostByCounty

Cass County struggles with affordability

Cass County's 15.0% rent-to-income ratio nearly matches Buena Vista as one of Iowa's least affordable counties, exceeding the state average of 14.1% by a full percentage point. The county's lowest median income in this cluster ($61,657) compounds the challenge for renters.

Cass among Iowa's toughest markets

At 15.0%, Cass County's rent-to-income ratio ranks near the bottom statewide, meaning renters here face greater affordability pressure than most Iowans. Combined with the region's lowest median income, housing costs consume a worrying share of household earnings.

Lowest income, challenging rents

Cass County's $61,657 median income is the lowest in its eight-county group, while rents of $769 remain middle-range; together, they create a squeeze. Neighboring counties with higher incomes (Bremer, Buchanan, Cedar) or lower rents (Calhoun, Carroll, Butler) offer clearer financial ground.

Housing burden hits hardest here

Renters spend $769 monthly and owners $781, with median home values of $133,300, all supported by just $61,657 household income—the region's tightest fit. At 15.0% of earnings, housing costs leave little room for other expenses.

Cass County requires careful financial planning

Relocating to Cass County demands honesty: the 15.0% rent-to-income ratio is among Iowa's worst, and median income of $61,657 is the lowest in this region. Explore Calhoun, Carroll, or Butler counties for meaningfully better financial outcomes.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in Cass County

via IncomeByCounty

Cass significantly lags national average

Cass County's median household income of $61,657 falls 18% below the national median of $74,755, the lowest among these eight Iowa counties. The county faces economic headwinds typical of smaller rural regions with limited employer diversity.

Iowa's income laggard

At $61,657, Cass County ranks well below Iowa's state median of $69,830—a shortfall of $8,173 per household. The county ranks in the lowest decile statewide, reflecting structural economic challenges.

Lowest earnings in the regional cluster

Cass ($61,657) underperforms all seven comparison counties, trailing even Buena Vista ($66,564) by $4,900. The county's per-capita income of $36,881 is second-lowest in the group, suggesting concentrated poverty amid overall rural struggle.

Housing costs strain household budgets

Cass's rent-to-income ratio of 15.0% is among the highest, meaning renters dedicate a significant portion of earnings to housing. The median home value of $133,300 is affordable in absolute terms, but represents a heavier burden relative to the county's low median income.

Strategic action required for progress

Cass County households must prioritize debt reduction and skill development in higher-wage sectors to improve long-term outcomes. Free or low-cost financial counseling, employer retirement plans, and remote work opportunities offer pathways to increased earning power.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in Cass County

via HealthByCounty

Cass County faces significant health challenges

At 76.2 years, Cass County residents' life expectancy falls short of the U.S. average of 78.9 years by 2.7 years—the largest gap among the counties studied. With 18.6% reporting poor or fair health compared to the national 15.1%, Cass faces concentrated health challenges affecting longevity and daily wellness.

Iowa's lowest life expectancy in this study

Cass County's 76.2-year life expectancy ranks lowest among the eight counties studied and trails Iowa's 77.7-year average by 1.5 years. The 18.6% poor/fair health rate suggests residents face significant chronic disease burdens and limited access to preventive care quality.

Wellness gap widens versus surrounding counties

Cass's 76.2-year life expectancy stands roughly 3 years below Bremer (79.7) and nearly 3 years below Cedar (79.1), marking it as an outlier in the region. The 18.6% poor/fair health rate exceeds all neighbors, indicating concentrated health vulnerabilities requiring targeted intervention.

Mental health resources abundant, but access barriers loom

Paradoxically, Cass County offers 457 mental health providers per 100,000 residents—by far the highest in this study—yet residents struggle with poor overall health. The 6.6% uninsured rate and broader health challenges suggest barriers beyond provider availability: possibly affordability, transportation, or health literacy gaps.

Break the health cycle with coverage

Cass County's 6.6% uninsured rate compounds the county's health crisis—coverage alone won't solve all challenges, but it removes a critical barrier. Healthcare.gov and Iowa Medicaid provide pathways to the abundant mental health services and primary care that could help reverse Cass County's longevity gap.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in Cass County

via RiskByCounty

Cass County's risk ranks notably high

With a composite risk score of 60.05, Cass County ranks in the Relatively Low category but exceeds roughly 60% of U.S. counties in disaster exposure. This is Iowa's highest risk among the eight counties analyzed.

Iowa's riskiest county in this group

Cass's score of 60.05 towers 51% above Iowa's state average of 39.68, making it one of the state's highest-risk counties overall. Only a handful of Iowa counties present comparably elevated natural disaster vulnerability.

Distinctly riskier than all peers

Cass (60.05) exceeds even Carroll County (57.60) by a narrow margin, dwarfing all eastern neighbors like Bremer (24.55) and Buchanan (24.05). The county stands in a risk category almost unto itself within this regional grouping.

Compound threat from multiple hazards

Tornado risk (75.76) and flood risk (43.35) are both elevated, with wildfire risk (40.55) adding a third major concern—an unusual combination for Iowa. Earthquake risk (16.22) and hurricane risk (17.56) remain secondary but non-negligible.

Multi-hazard insurance strategy essential

Cass County residents must address tornado, flood, and wildfire risks through a layered insurance approach: ensure wind and hail coverage, evaluate flood insurance through the NFIP, and check defensible space around your home. Consider a safe room retrofit and emergency kit as foundational investments.

Full disaster risk analysis on RiskByCounty

ByCounty Network

🏛Property Tax🏠Cost of Living💼Income & Jobs🛡Safety❤Health🎓Schools⚡Disaster Risk💧Water Quality

Data from U.S. Census Bureau ACS, FBI UCR, CDC, FEMA NRI, NCES, EPA SDWIS — informational only.