RANK #635 / 1001 NAT · #9 / 11 IA · POP 99,030
1YR FORECAST: +1.8%
5YR OUTLOOK: +16%
Dubuque County, Iowa, is distinguished by its location in the Driftless Area, a region of rolling hills, limestone bluffs, and river valleys untouched by glaciers. The city of Dubuque, the county seat, sits along the Mississippi River, serving as a commercial and cultural center for the Tri-State Area where Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin meet. The area offers extensive outdoor recreation, including parks, preserves, and trails for hiking, biking, and kayaking, notably at the Mines of Spain State Park and along the Heritage Trail. Life in Dubuque County offers a blend of urban amenities and natural scenery. The public schools are well-regarded, with districts like Dubuque Community School District and Western Dubuque Community School District serving local families. The economy, historically rooted in manufacturing, has diversified to include logistics, healthcare, finance, insurance, higher education, and information services. Recent economic developments show continued investment in manufacturing and other sectors, contributing to a stable job market.
Dubuque County is one of 145 U.S. counties in this market profile — weaker than typical on the BoomTown Index. Within this cohort, its recent home-price change of +4.7% matches the profile's typical +4.9%.
See all 145 Heartland Steady Growth counties →Below national median (11.3x)
Below-average climate & terrain
Above national median (15x)
Housing is fairly valued at 6.7x relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: Homicide rates from CDC/NCHS vital-statistics mortality data — a multi-year average that stabilizes counts in smaller counties — compiled in the County Health Rankings 2025 release. Rates per 100,000 population; U.S. average ≈ 6.5. Grade reflects homicide rate relative to the national average. Learn more →
See where Dubuque County stands nationally: safest large counties in America · highest homicide-rate counties.
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Gardner 69 kV Substation Battery Storage
Unknown
|
$100M | Planned |
|
Dubuque Gate & Pump Station Flood Mitigation Project
City of Dubuque
|
$50M | Under Construction |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
At 36/100, Dubuque County faces headwinds that place it in the lower third of the 1001 counties we track. Median income of $77,630 combined with job growth of -1.2% suggests the local economy is struggling to keep pace with national trends.
Housing in Dubuque County is roughly in line with national affordability norms. The median home costs $237,300 and the income-to-home-value ratio sits at 0.33, with rents averaging $959/month. Not a bargain, but not a stretch for most local earners either.
Dubuque County's job market is contracting (-1.2% YoY) while population is roughly stable (+0.1% change). Home values are +4.7% over the past 12 months. Hiring headwinds without an offsetting exodus — residents are staying, but local employers are shedding payroll.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 2.14% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Dubuque County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.