The Town Files

Lucas County, Iowa

8,716 people. The median home is worth $120,200 (typical Iowa town: $156,300) and the median household earns $61,793.

Towns in Lucas County

Towns in Lucas County

TownPeopleMedian homeIncomeMedian age
Chariton4,193$81,900$46,97938.6

People and housing

Lucas CountyTypical Iowa town
Median home value$120,200$156,300
Median rent$709$820
Median household income$61,793$69,254
Median age41.940.2
Bachelor's degree or higher15.8%21.8%
Below the poverty line14.9%9.3%

Jobs and pay

3,351 jobs in 2024, average pay $50,709 a year.

Largest industries in Lucas CountyManufacturing400 jobs · $51,730Retail330 jobs · $28,123Construction86 jobs · $55,513Finance & insurance74 jobs · $60,580Professional & technical serv…74 jobs · $45,979Other services72 jobs · $43,447
BLS QCEW 2024.
Unemployment rate in Lucas County0%2%4%6%8%2000200420082012201620202023 2.4%
BLS LAUS via USDA ERS, annual averages.

Storms since 1996

NOAA recorded 463 storm events in Lucas County from 1996 to 2026, with 1 deaths.

Storm events in Lucas County by type since 1996Hail66Flood90Drought33Blizzard11High Wind22Ice Storm15Heavy Rain47Heavy Snow23Flash Flood17Frost/Freeze9
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.

Federal disaster declarations

Lucas County has been included in 15 FEMA declarations since 1953.

DeclaredIncidentDeclaration
March 23, 2020BiologicalDR-4483: Covid-19 Pandemic
March 13, 2020BiologicalEM-3480: Covid-19
March 23, 2019FloodDR-4421: Severe Storms And Flooding
July 31, 2015Severe StormDR-4234: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding
May 31, 2013FloodDR-4119: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding
July 29, 2010Severe StormDR-1930: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024; BLS QCEW and LAUS; NOAA Storm Events; FEMA OpenFEMA (not endorsed by FEMA).