Jobs, pay and daily life in Creston, from official statistics with source and year on every table.
Click any dot to open that city: jobs, pay, rent, commute, county economy and climate. Dot size follows population; colours follow the state flag.
By AtiveSite · Published 07/11/2026 · Updated 07/11/2026 · Every figure is linked to its source below.
Creston is a city in Iowa with 7,435 residents. The median household earns $52,633 a year and the median rent is $703 a month, which is 16.0% of the median household income. The nearest metropolitan area with BLS wage data is Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA (404,130 jobs), about 44 miles away; this place is probably not part of it, so its pay tables are a reference only.
How Creston compares. Among the 60 largest places in Iowa, Creston is #55 by population, #1 for rent (#1 = cheapest), #60 for remote work (#1 = most), #58 for household income (#1 = highest). Its county, Union County, is #72 of 99 counties for average pay ($50,030).
Creston has 7,435 residents (ACS 2020–2024), about 0.2% of the population of Iowa. It covers 5 square miles of land, which works out to roughly 1,433 people per square mile. The median age is 39.5, about the same as the state median (39.5 against 38.6).
The median gross rent is $703 a month (rent plus utilities), 28% below the state median ($703 against $972). Over a year that is 16.0% of the median household income. US housing guidance treats housing as affordable when it takes 30% of income or less, so the typical household is under that line. The median home value is $114,500, which is 2.2 times the median household income ($52,633); a ratio under 4 usually means ownership is within reach for many households. 64.3% of households own their home, 10% below the state average (64.3% against 71.7%).
The nearest metropolitan area with wage data is Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA, metropolitan area has 404,130 jobs in the BLS wage survey, and the median pay across all occupations is $51,820 a year, about the same as the national median ($51,820 against $50,980). The biggest occupation groups are office and administrative support (49,810 jobs, median $48,790); sales and related (38,890 jobs, median $37,570); business and financial operations (35,200 jobs, median $80,390). The area is most specialised in business and financial operations (1.3 times) and computer and mathematical (1.3 times), where the share of workers is above the national share. The best-paying groups with at least 5,000 jobs are management ($120,120) and computer and mathematical ($101,550). In 2026M09 the unemployment rate of Union County was 3.0%. 56.0% of residents aged 16 and over are in the labour force. The city lies in Union County; its jobs, pay by industry and GDP are on the county page.
Among workers, 81.5% drive alone, 0.0% use public transit, 6.4% walk, 2.3% work from home. 6.7% of workers commute 45 minutes or more, 18% below the state average (6.7% against 8.2%).
23.9% of adults aged 25 and over hold a bachelor's degree or higher, 24% below the state share (23.9% against 31.4%). 1.8% of residents were born outside the United States, 70% below the state share (1.8% against 5.9%). The poverty rate is 15.8%, 43% above the state rate (15.8% against 11.1%).
The warmest month is Jul, averaging 76°F (24.7°C), and the coolest is Jan at 23°F (-5.2°C). About 895 mm (35 inches) of precipitation falls in a year; May is the wettest month (129 mm) and Jan the driest (22 mm). These values come from NASA satellite-based climatology on a grid of about 50 km, so they describe the wider area, not a weather station in the city.
Closest cities in this guide: Waukee (44 miles, rent 97% higher); West Des Moines (45 miles, rent 76% higher); Norwalk (45 miles, rent 19% higher); Indianola (47 miles, rent 40% higher). Rent differences are against Creston; use the Compare tab to put any two cities side by side.
Federal jobs in Iowa (226) →State guide: IowaCountry guideUnion CountyIowa rankings
These links go to official sources and open in a new window. The first one is the government's or company's own site as listed in Wikidata (property "official website"); check it before relying on it.
There are 226 federal postings open in Iowa (USAJOBS, state level; we do not have a city filter for them). Private-sector jobs are not in this feed.
| Occupation ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay (year) ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Customer Service Representatives | 12,070 | 1.79 | $48,880 | $35,920 | $66,240 | +9% |
| Retail Salespersons | 11,000 | 1.09 | $33,430 | $27,630 | $46,780 | -6% |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | 10,060 | 1.00 | $29,140 | $21,870 | $36,400 | -7% |
| Cashiers | 8,720 | 1.09 | $29,640 | $24,140 | $37,610 | -10% |
| General and Operations Managers | 8,370 | 0.92 | $98,780 | $46,950 | $208,630 | -7% |
| Registered Nurses | 8,130 | 0.93 | $78,630 | $64,680 | $100,500 | -19% |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | 7,840 | 1.46 | $60,720 | $43,950 | $79,240 | +4% |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | 7,430 | 1.01 | $36,800 | $29,090 | $48,480 | -1% |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | 7,000 | 0.91 | $46,370 | $33,580 | $55,770 | +15% |
| Waiters and Waitresses | 6,250 | 1.06 | $20,410 | $15,080 | $48,760 | -42% |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | 6,210 | 0.55 | $36,350 | $30,800 | $44,520 | +2% |
| Office Clerks, General | 6,010 | 0.94 | $46,540 | $31,600 | $62,180 | +3% |
| Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | 5,720 | 1.00 | $35,000 | $29,570 | $46,850 | -5% |
| Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary | 5,140 | 1.39 | $34,620 | $23,740 | $38,340 | -6% |
| Business Operations Specialists, All Other | 5,130 | 1.82 | $86,540 | $55,890 | $138,850 | +4% |
| Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products | 4,900 | 1.52 | $67,040 | $42,820 | $128,190 | -7% |
| Accountants and Auditors | 4,850 | 1.29 | $79,290 | $56,390 | $128,130 | -5% |
| Nursing Assistants | 4,660 | 1.24 | $43,940 | $35,420 | $50,630 | +4% |
| Software Developers | 4,240 | 0.97 | $126,460 | $79,170 | $168,180 | -7% |
| Financial Managers | 3,800 | 1.74 | $154,140 | $94,230 | $263,790 | -7% |
| Occupation ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay (year) ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chief Executives | 1,230 | 2.31 | $290,870 | $96,550 | $390,260 | +36% |
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | 2,050 | 1.17 | $164,840 | $111,990 | $215,440 | -6% |
| Financial Managers | 3,800 | 1.74 | $154,140 | $94,230 | $263,790 | -7% |
| Pharmacists | 850 | 1.01 | $141,110 | $123,510 | $164,900 | +0% |
| Managers, All Other | 1,420 | 0.88 | $139,110 | $74,050 | $234,030 | -2% |
| Human Resources Managers | 520 | 0.91 | $138,140 | $91,450 | $233,690 | -7% |
| Sales Managers | 1,200 | 0.73 | $136,570 | $75,420 | $223,300 | -8% |
| Marketing Managers | 950 | 0.93 | $135,140 | $81,220 | $214,220 | -19% |
| Lawyers | 1,760 | 0.90 | $134,560 | $65,830 | $292,020 | -16% |
| Nurse Practitioners | 820 | 0.97 | $132,230 | $113,470 | $166,960 | -0% |
| Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products | 1,010 | 1.36 | $126,830 | $62,070 | $197,770 | +21% |
| Software Developers | 4,240 | 0.97 | $126,460 | $79,170 | $168,180 | -7% |
| Administrative Services Managers | 630 | 0.92 | $126,190 | $76,680 | $172,400 | +11% |
| Information Security Analysts | 720 | 1.46 | $123,740 | $73,200 | $167,610 | -4% |
| Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary | 850 | 0.99 | $117,980 | $79,840 | $153,260 | +11% |
| Computer Occupations, All Other | 1,770 | 1.57 | $109,490 | $50,840 | $163,770 | -6% |
| Computer Network Architects | 640 | 1.38 | $108,280 | $66,870 | $160,320 | -19% |
| Industrial Production Managers | 510 | 0.79 | $107,550 | $74,710 | $177,960 | -15% |
| Construction Managers | 1,020 | 1.03 | $103,920 | $65,560 | $201,450 | -10% |
| Data Scientists | 1,240 | 1.82 | $103,030 | $65,480 | $150,190 | -14% |
These figures are for the nearest metropolitan area with wage data, Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA, about 44 miles away. They show what the regional labour market pays; they are not a measure of this city.
Median pay across all occupations: $51,820 (US $50,980); unemployment 3.3% (2026M09).
| Industry (residents) ⇅ | Share of employed residents ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Education and health care | 23.5% |
| Manufacturing | 15.8% |
| Retail trade | 15.2% |
| Professional, scientific, management, administrative | 8.8% |
| Construction | 7.4% |
| Arts, entertainment, accommodation, food | 6.8% |
| Other services | 6.1% |
| Finance, insurance, real estate | 4.0% |
| Wholesale trade | 3.6% |
| Transportation, warehousing, utilities | 2.9% |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing, mining | 2.7% |
| Public administration | 2.3% |
| Information | 1.1% |
Cities have no official GDP or payroll count of their own. These figures are for the county where Creston lies and cover the whole county, not only the city.
| County ⇅ | Population ⇅ | GDP (2024) ⇅ | GDP per resident ⇅ | Jobs (QCEW 2024) ⇅ | Employer sites ⇅ | Average annual pay ⇅ | Job change vs 2023 ⇅ | Unemployment rate ⇅ | Labour force ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Union County | 11,993 | $965 million | $80,452 | 5,910 | 459 | $50,030 | +2.9% | 3.0% | 5,780 |
| Industry ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Share of private jobs ⇅ | Average annual pay ⇅ | Concentration vs US (location quotient) ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 1,082 | 25.7% | $55,328 | 2.23 |
| Retail trade | 746 | 17.7% | $31,070 | 1.26 |
| Health care and social assistance | 538 | 12.8% | $37,246 | 0.64 |
| Accommodation and food services | 369 | 8.8% | $16,705 | 0.69 |
| Administrative and waste services | 327 | 7.8% | $36,172 | 0.94 |
| Construction | 288 | 6.8% | $72,760 | 0.93 |
| Wholesale trade | 187 | 4.4% | $67,091 | 0.80 |
| Finance and insurance | 138 | 3.3% | $68,432 | 0.58 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 119 | 2.8% | $49,696 | 0.48 |
| Professional and technical services | 94 | 2.2% | $58,423 | 0.23 |
| Utilities | 82 | 1.9% | $91,649 | 3.65 |
| Other services (except public administration) | 78 | 1.8% | $36,074 | 0.44 |
| Educational services | 53 | 1.3% | $27,222 | 0.43 |
| Information | 50 | 1.2% | $59,040 | 0.45 |
| Arts, entertainment, recreation | 38 | 0.9% | $11,071 | 0.38 |
| Real estate and rental | 25 | 0.6% | $29,697 | 0.27 |
| Management of companies | 3 | 0.1% | $114,065 | 0.03 |
QCEW counts jobs covered by unemployment insurance; sectors with too few employers are withheld by BLS. Latest-month unemployment is preliminary.
| How residents get to work ⇅ | Share ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Drive alone | 81.5% |
| Public transit | 0.0% |
| Walk | 6.4% |
| Work from home | 2.3% |
| Commute of 45 minutes or more | 6.7% |
Shares are of workers aged 16 and over; they describe residents, wherever they work.
| Indicator ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Median household income | $52,633 |
| Income per person | $28,795 |
| Median gross rent per month | $703 |
| Yearly rent as share of median household income | 16.0% |
| Median home value | $114,500 |
| Homeowners | 64.3% |
| Poverty rate | 15.8% |
| Price level of the nearest metro area (US = 100) | 91.7 |
| Nearest metro median pay, all occupations | $51,820 |
Estimate for a wage earner: 2026 federal brackets and standard deduction (IRS), Social Security 6.2% up to $184,500, Medicare 1.45% (+0.9% above $200,000 single / $250,000 married), and a state rate you set. It ignores credits, pre-tax deductions, local taxes and benefits. Sources: IRS: tax year 2026 inflation adjustments · SSA wage base per Federal Register notice 2025-19763.
State tax: Flat 3.80%.
| Indicator ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Median age | 39.5 |
| High school or higher (25+) | 92.2% |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (25+) | 23.9% |
| Born abroad | 1.8% |
| Labour force participation (16+) | 56.0% |
Work permits are federal: see permits and first steps.
| Month ⇅ | Mean temperature (°C) ⇅ | Mean temperature (°F) ⇅ | Precipitation (mm) ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | -5.2 | 23 | 22 |
| Feb | -3.6 | 26 | 29 |
| Mar | 3.6 | 38 | 50 |
| Apr | 10.4 | 51 | 88 |
| May | 16.4 | 62 | 129 |
| Jun | 22.2 | 72 | 128 |
| Jul | 24.7 | 76 | 92 |
| Aug | 23.3 | 74 | 115 |
| Sep | 18.8 | 66 | 87 |
| Oct | 10.8 | 51 | 74 |
| Nov | 3.8 | 39 | 42 |
| Dec | -2.8 | 27 | 39 |
Satellite-reanalysis climatology on a grid of roughly 50 km, so it smooths local effects (hills, coast, city heat). It is not a weather-station record.
| City ⇅ | State ⇅ | Distance (straight line) ⇅ | Population ⇅ | Median household income ⇅ | Median rent ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waukee | IA | 44 mi | 29,236 | $101,029 | $1,383 |
| West Des Moines | IA | 45 mi | 71,083 | $86,594 | $1,237 |
| Norwalk | IA | 45 mi | 14,183 | $102,722 | $838 |
| Indianola | IA | 47 mi | 16,044 | $75,453 | $986 |
| Clive | IA | 48 mi | 19,012 | $132,121 | $1,073 |
| Urbandale | IA | 50 mi | 46,595 | $112,795 | $1,211 |
| Grimes | IA | 52 mi | 16,366 | $120,037 | $1,251 |
| Des Moines | IA | 53 mi | 212,421 | $65,932 | $1,090 |
| Johnston | IA | 55 mi | 24,384 | $106,551 | $1,338 |
| Perry | IA | 56 mi | 7,985 | $68,910 | $931 |
Straight-line distance in miles, not driving distance.
Pick two cities.
vs
7,435 (Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-year estimate).
$703 a month (ACS 2020–2024), which is 16.0% of the median household income.
$52,633 (ACS 2020–2024, in 2024 dollars).
3.0% (BLS county, Union County (latest month 2026M09)).
Iowa. See the state guide for minimum wage, taxes and pay.