Jasper County, Iowa: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Newton, Colfax and Monroe
No data center or power plant project is on record in Jasper County, but the national build-out still reaches it through its utility bill, its labor market and the projects next door. Construction employs 1,012, up 39.4% since 2019, and construction is 1.8 times as concentrated here as in the U.S. economy. Jasper County is home to Newton, Colfax, Monroe and Prairie City. Next door, Polk County has 30 data centers. Electrical contractors employ 299, up 23.6% since 2019 against up 25.6% statewide, at an average $70,334 a year. Employers here counted 10,688 jobs in 2025, down 7.1% from 2019.
Cities and towns in Jasper County
Jasper County is home to Newton, Colfax, Monroe and Prairie City.
Residents are 2025 Census estimates for the part of each city, town or township inside this county. Census publishes no annual estimate for unincorporated communities.
What changed in Jasper County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Iowa |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 37,821 | 38,153 | ▲ 0.9% | 16th of 99 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 11,506 | 10,688 | ▼ 7.1% | 83rd of 99 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $40,397 | $52,032 | ▲ 28.8% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 726 | 1,012 | ▲ 39.4% | 9th of 81 by growth |
| Electrical contractor jobs (2019 → 2025) | 242 | 299 | ▲ 23.6% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 3.0% | 3.6% | ▲ 0.6pts | — |
Unemployment was 3.6% in August 2026, against 3.0% in 2019. MidAmerican Energy Co is the largest utility serving Jasper County, one of 4 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 11.01¢/kWh in 2024, below the 13.77¢ median for Iowa utilities. 38,153 people live here, up 0.9% since 2020.
Who powers Jasper County
Utilities with service territory in Jasper County
| Utility | Ownership | Service | Residential customers (systemwide) | Residential price, 2024 | Commercial share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MidAmerican Energy Co | Investor Owned | Bundled | 632,436 | 11.01¢ | 18% |
| Interstate Power and Light Co | Investor Owned | Bundled | 417,153 | 17.90¢ | 29% |
| Consumers Energy Coop - (IA) | Cooperative | Bundled | 6,922 | 15.00¢ | 13% |
| Pella Cooperative Elec Assn | — | — | — | — | — |
Customer counts, prices and sales shares cover each utility's whole system in the state, not only this county. Commercial sales include data centers.
No operating power plant is located in Jasper County in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
The Jasper County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 10,688 | $52,032 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 1,012 | $80,645 | 1.79 |
| Electrical contractors | 299 | $70,334 | 3.88 |
| Data processing and hosting | 15 | $69,895 | 0.45 |
Concentration is the BLS location quotient: 1.0 means the industry holds the same share of local jobs as it does nationally. Industry rows count private employers; cells BLS suppresses are left out.
Data centers and local rules in Jasper County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Jasper County. Iowa has 31 local measures on record statewide, and 1 neighboring county has one: Marshall County.
Jasper County and its neighbors
Of the 7 counties that border Jasper County, Polk County carries the most build-out activity: data centers, planned generation and operating plants combined.
| County | Population | Jobs since 2019 | Operating MW | Planned MW | Data centers | Local measures |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jasper County | 38,153 | ▼ 7.1% | — | — | — | — |
| Mahaska County | 21,880 | ▲ 2.0% | 168 MW | — | — | — |
| Marion County | 34,192 | ▲ 8.4% | 100 MW | — | — | — |
| Marshall County | 39,890 | ▼ 3.8% | 1,190 MW | — | 1 | 1 |
| Polk County | 516,546 | ▲ 3.9% | 1,066 MW | — | 30 | — |
| Poweshiek County | 18,368 | ▼ 6.0% | 538 MW | — | — | — |
| Story County | 101,291 | ▲ 1.8% | 431 MW | — | — | — |
| Tama County | 16,796 | ▼ 3.2% | 180 MW | — | — | — |
More of Iowa
Jasper County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Jasper County, Iowa?
4 utilities have service territory in Jasper County in the EIA-861 2024 report: MidAmerican Energy Co, Interstate Power and Light Co, Consumers Energy Coop - (IA), Pella Cooperative Elec Assn. The largest, MidAmerican Energy Co, charged residential customers 11.01¢/kWh on average in 2024.
What county is Newton, IA in?
Newton is in Jasper County, Iowa. About 15,741 people live there (2025 Census estimate).
Are there data centers in Jasper County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Jasper County. The nearest activity on record is next door in Polk County.
Is Jasper County adding jobs?
Employers counted 10,688 jobs in 2025 against 11,506 in 2019 (-7.1%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 726 to 1,012.
Does Jasper County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Jasper County. Iowa has 31 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.