Iowa’s Poorest County Has One Big Thing Going For It

It's never too hard to find at least one thing you like about your hometown.

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It's time to talk about the best of the worst...

Last year, we dove into the worst rural town in the Hawkeye State.

By the way, "worst" rural town is somewhat subjective. The Youtuber put together a series of videos of the "worst" rural towns in each state. Each state has it's own corresponding video.

When this guy says "worst" he actually means most affordable. Also, HE'S the one who said it not me!

You can read more about this here.

And then another survey came out that attempted to determine the worst small town in the state. This one is no surprise at all. It also just so happens to be the sight of one of the most gruesome crimes in Iowa history.

Read more about this town here!

Then this same publisher put together a list of the best small towns in Iowa.

This study determined that Huxley, IA  also known as the "Heart of the Prairie" is the best small town in the state. You can read more about it here.

Now we're graduating to talking about counties here in the Hawkeye State.

The poorest county in Iowa has some pretty good perks.

As reported in the 2020 Census, the poorest county in Iowa is Appanoose County. Located in the southern region of the state, Appanoose's county seat is Centerville.

Appanoose County is considered the poorest county in Iowa. According to reports as well as the 2020 U.S. Census, the median household income is $39,693. This is about 36% lower than the state average and approximately 39% lower than the national average.

Yes, it's the poorest county in the state but there are some immense perks to living here...

Great For Any Outdoorsmen

Appanoose County has plenty of natural scenery and outdoor recreational activities for the whole family. There are multiple lakes such as Rathbun Lake, Lake Sundown, and the Stephens State Forest.

Rathbun covers more than 10,000 acres and is a great spot for fishing and water sports.

Low Land Prices

Also, if you're planning to set up shop somewhere, why not check out one of the cheapest places in the state for land? Whether you're a farmer just getting their start or you're a business owner who wants to build something that could last, Appanoose could be the county for you.

According to a report, Appanoose County has the second lowest land prices in the state at $5,626. This comes in right behind Decatur at $5,566.

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