RANK #358 / 1001 NAT · #3 / 11 IA · POP 54,409
1YR FORECAST: +1.5%
5YR OUTLOOK: +31%
Indianola, the county seat, is a notable town in Warren County, Iowa, known for hosting the National Balloon Classic, an annual hot air balloon event. Located in central Iowa, Warren County sits just south of Des Moines, making it part of the Des Moines metropolitan area. This proximity allows for a commute to the city while offering a community feel with rolling hills and natural scenery. Outdoor recreation opportunities abound, with over 2,700 acres of parks and trails, including Lake Ahquabi for canoeing and fishing, and the Great Western Trail for hiking and biking. Life in Warren County often appeals to families and young professionals, with public schools generally performing above average. The local economy is experiencing growth, particularly in commercial and residential development, as well as the technology sector, including data centers. Efforts are also underway to support business retention and expansion, new business starts, and workforce development, aiming to capitalize on the region's expansion.
Warren County's data profile doesn't fit any single market profile cleanly — its housing, labor, and demographic signals pull in different directions (home prices +2.8% YoY, population +1.7%, wages +3.7%). About 414 U.S. counties show this kind of mixed-signal pattern.
See all 414 Idiosyncratic Markets counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Below-average climate & terrain
Above national median (15x)
Housing looks overvalued at 20.3x — home prices are high 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: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Proposed Norwalk Data Center Campus
Undisclosed Developer
|
$12,000M | Proposed |
|
Amazon Web Services Data Center (Project Steamboat)
Amazon Web Services (AWS)
|
$3,000M | Planned |
|
Microsoft Data Center (Project Osmium)
Microsoft
|
$1,500M | Under Construction |
|
New Residential Developments (Multiple Communities)
Various Developers (e.g., D.R. Horton)
|
$100M | Under Construction |
|
Broadband Project
Warren County
|
$50M | Planned |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
With a Boom Town Index score of 64/100, Warren County sits in the upper half of all 1001 ranked counties. Employment is expanding at +3.7%, and median household income stands at $94,588 — indicators that suggest solid fundamentals even if it's not among the fastest-growing counties in IA.
By national standards, Warren County is quite affordable. Homes here have a median value of $269,600, and the income-to-home-value ratio of 0.35 is well above the U.S. average — especially with median rent at just $973/month. Residents can generally buy a home without being cost-burdened.
Warren County is growing on multiple fronts. Population is up +1.7% year-over-year while employers added jobs at a +3.7% clip. Home values shifted +2.8% in the past year.
In significant numbers — 6.37% of Warren County's current population relocated from another state, well above the national norm. That level of in-migration usually signals a county where jobs, affordability, or quality of life are pulling people in from elsewhere.