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Fayette County, IA
13 cities and towns and 14 ZIP codes in Fayette County, Iowa.
Population
19,288
Land area
731sq mi
People per sq mi
26
ZIP codes
14
Cities and towns in Fayette County
Fayette County at a glance
- Fayette County is 54% less dense than Iowa as a whole.
- Households here earn a median of $60,165 a year, 20% less than the Iowa figure of $75,059.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $136,800 (34% below Iowa) and median rent is $881 a month.
- The biggest population centers are Oelwein (5,834), West Union (2,489) and Fayette (1,309).
Local data for Fayette County, IA
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Fayette County, IA, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$60,165
Poverty rate
12.0%
Median home value
$136,800
Prices +12.2% in a year
Median rent
$881/mo
Homeownership
76.5%
Bachelor's or higher
20.7%
Median age
43.9
Average commute
22.5 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (7,882), Irish Americans (2,732), Norwegian Americans (2,162).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, income, federal spending and pandemic loans
Unemployment rate
3.5%
Aug 2026, 0.0 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$50,294
6,976 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$57,293
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$152M
FY 2026, $7,781 per person
PPP loans
$28.89M
1,320 loans, 3,536 jobs reported
Campaign donations
$46.29K
Itemized, 2026 cycle
How people get to work
Fayette County, IA, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone79.4%
- Carpooled7.4%
- Public transit0.3%
- Walked4.5%
- Bicycle0.3%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other0.9%
- Worked from home7.3%
Average one-way commute: 22.5 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Fayette County, IA, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively Low
Top: drought
Storm events since 1996
539
Most often hail
Flood insurance policies
39
0.4% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
82° / 6°F
39.5 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone28 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Fayette County, IA, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
38.5%
U.S. 33.3% +5.2 pts
Diabetes
13.1%
U.S. 12.1% +1.0 pts
Smoking
16.9%
U.S. 12.8% +4.1 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
7.4%
U.S. 11.1% -3.7 pts
Cities, towns and ZIP codes in Fayette County
Population shown
Frequently asked questions
- What is the largest city in Fayette County, IA?
- Oelwein is the largest city or town in Fayette County, with about 5,834 residents.
- How many ZIP codes are in Fayette County?
- Fayette County includes 14 ZIP Code Tabulation Areas, including 50606, 50655, 50662, 50664, 50671.
- What is the population of Fayette County, IA?
- About 19,288 people live in Fayette County, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What counties border Fayette County?
- Fayette County borders Black Hawk County, Bremer County, Buchanan County, Winneshiek County, Delaware County, Clayton County, Allamakee County, Chickasaw County.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023