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EconPulse

Local economy signal dashboard

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PLACEThriving

Kalona, IA

Thriving overall. GDP / Output is the clearest support signal, while housing needs the most attention. Housing reads as affordable for a median-income household.

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Overall score88out of 100
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100
85
89
82
91

Population

2,692

Data freshness

Unknown

GDP / Output

+13.8% YoY

100

$1.9B

Output changed +13.8% in 2024.

Vintage date unknown

State growth5.0%
U.S. growth5.3%

Jobs

Unemployment rate

85

2.4%

Unemployment is 2.4% for June 2026.

Vintage date unknown

State avg3.2%
U.S. avg4.2%

Population

+6.5% 5-year

89

2,692

Population moved +6.5% over the latest ACS window.

Vintage date unknown

State population3,210,507
U.S. population334,922,499

Housing

Rent share of income

82

12.8%

Median rent consumes 12.8% of median household income: Affordable.

Vintage date unknown

State rent$972
U.S. rent$1.4K
HUD_API_TOKEN missing; ACS median gross rent is used as the housing affordability fallback.

Federal Funds

$7.0K per resident

91

$157.8M

$157.8M in federal obligations flowed here in FY2025.

Vintage date unknown

State total$36.5B
U.S. total$5.3T

Population and output

Trend Snapshot

Reported share

Industry Breakdown

FY2025

Federal Money

Federal obligations

$157.8M

$7.0K per resident in reported federal flow.

Top agencies

Dollars
1. Social Security Administration$128.0M
2. Department of Agriculture$16.2M
3. Department of Veterans Affairs$10.2M

Top recipients

Dollars
1. REDACTED DUE TO PII$15.9M
2. WASHINGTON MUNICIPAL AIRPORT$1.3M
3. IOWA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION$1.1M

Affordable

Housing Affordability

12.8%

of median income

1BR estimate$699
2BR estimate$921
Median income$80,129
Median home value$257,900

ACS context

Quick Facts

Population

2,692

Median age

41.4

Bachelor's degree+

31.4%

Poverty rate

4.6%

Labor force participation

71.6%

Prime rate

6.8%

CPI YoY

+3.2%

U.S. GDP YoY

+6.5%

Sources and warnings

Data Provenance

Census ACS 5-year

2024

BLS LAUS / CPS

June 2026

BEA regional CAGDP1

2024

USAspending

FY2025

FRED

2026-07-30

HUD Fair Market Rent

Latest available

Data notes
  • HUD_API_TOKEN missing; ACS median gross rent is used as the housing affordability fallback.

5-year compound growth

Historical Trends

Population CAGR

+1.3%

GDP CAGR

+12.0%

Federal flow

5 years

Population (5 years)
20202,528
20212,631
20222,637
20232,679
20242,692
GDP (5 years)
2020$1.1B
2021$1.4B
2022$1.7B
2023$1.6B
2024$1.9B

2-year linear forecast

Predictive Outlook

Population forecast

20242,692
20252,746 *
20262,784 *

R² = 85.0% · * projected

GDP forecast

2024$1.9B
2025$2.1B *
2026$2.3B *

R² = 84.1% · * projected

Linear regression over available historical data. Projections are estimates based on past trends and do not account for policy changes, economic shocks, or other external factors.

housing affordability breakdown

Cost of Living

Median household income$80,129/yr
Median rent$853/mo
Rent share of income12.8%
Est. mortgage (30yr, 6.5%)$15,649/yr
Mortgage share of income19.5%

Rent data from Census ACS 5-year. Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 6.5% APR, 30-year fixed.

employment snapshot

Job Market

Unemployment rate2.4%
State avg3.2%
U.S. avg4.2%
Labor force participation71.6%
Poverty rate4.6%

Data from BLS LAUS / CPS. June 2026.

valuation snapshot

Real Estate

Median home value$257,900
Median monthly rent$853
Price-to-rent ratio25.2x

High price-to-rent ratio — renting may be more economical than buying in this market.

composite score

Investment Climate

Investment climateStrong
Composite score91/100
Economic growth100/100
Labor market85/100
Population momentum89/100
Overall stability88/100

Composite score weighs economic growth, labor market health, population momentum, and overall stability. Not financial advice.

Location Context

Kalona city, Iowa

City/Town

Part of

Iowa City, IA

Nearby locations

Frytown, IARiverside, IAWellman, IAHills, IAWest Chester, IA