Winneshiek County

Quality of Life has inched into the top spot in the U.S. that businesses now give for relocating. That’s a big advantage for Decorah and Winneshiek County because the area offers a way of life that many people can only dream of. Midwest Living magazine says that Decorah is one of the top 100 small towns to visit in the Midwest. But for the people who live here, it’s definitely No. 1.

• As of 2023 the region’s population declined by 0.1% since 2018, falling by 11. Population is expected to increase by 0.9% between 2023 and 2028, adding 172.
• From 2018 to 2023, jobs declined by 3.1% in Winneshiek County, IA from 12,958 to 12,555. This change fell short of the national growth rate of 3.6% by 6.7%. As the number of jobs declined, the labor force participation rate decreased from 68.2% to 66.4% between 2018 and 2023.
• Concerning educational attainment, 19.0% of Winneshiek County, IA residents possess a Bachelor’s Degree (2.1% below the national average), and 15.2% hold an Associate’s Degree (6.2% above the national average).
• The top three industries in 2023 are Education and Hospitals (Local Government), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools, and Restaurants and Other Eating Places.