City · Iowa
Adel, Iowa
Adel, city, in Dallas County, Iowa. Adel had 7,098 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 15.2% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 6,153 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 6,430 (±47). GEOID 1900505.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
7,098
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 6,153 · ACS 2020-2024: 6,430 ±47
Median household income
$95,250
±$22,906 (90% margin)
Iowa: $75,059
Median home value
$327,900
±$26,562 (90% margin)
Iowa: $208,000
Median gross rent
$926
±$195 (90% margin)
Iowa: $972
Where is Adel and what county is it in?
Adel is a city in Dallas County, Iowa. It covers 5.4 square miles of land, 1,141 residents per square mile in 2020.
Adel is in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 6 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Adel, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 7,098 people lived in Adel on July 1, 2025, up 15.2% since 2020, faster than Iowa (+1.5%). The 2020 Census counted 6,153 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 6,430 (±47).
| Measure | Adel | Dallas County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 6,430 ±47 | 107,968 | +1,842 |
| Households | 2,372 ±184 | 42,471 | +544 |
| Average household size | 2.67 ±0.20 | 2.53 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 2,421 ±211 | 44,804 | +579 |
Adel's population since 2000
From 3,435 in 2000 to 7,098 in 2025: up 106.6%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Adel as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Adel?
The median resident of Adel is 36.5 years old; 30.4% are under 18 and 12.3% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 86.2%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 6.0%.
| Measure | Adel | Dallas County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.5 ±1.6 | 36.1 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 30.4% ±2.9 pts | 26.6% | – |
| 65 years and over | 12.3% ±2.3 pts | 12.9% | – |
| Male | 51.0% ±2.8 pts | 49.8% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 6.0% ±4.3 pts | 6.9% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 86.2% ±5.2 pts | 80.9% | −10.6 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.9% ±1.6 pts | 3.0% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.4 pts | 4.9% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.4% ±0.4 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.4 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 4.7% ±2.9 pts | 3.9% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 1.9% ±2.1 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 3.2% ±2.4 pts | 10.4% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 7.1% ±4.6 pts | 13.2% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 4.3% ±2.1 pts | 5.5% | – |
| With a disability | 9.3% ±3.1 pts | 7.7% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 4.2% ±2.8 pts | 3.9% | – |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 94.7% ±3.7 pts | 95.4% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 37.9% ±6.8 pts | 51.5% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 12.5% ±4.1 pts | 17.7% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 82.9% ±6.8 pts | 86.0% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.1% ±1.0 pts | 2.6% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Adel earn?
Half of Adel's 2,372 households earn less than $95,250 a year (±$22,906), against $102,379 in Dallas County and $75,059 in Iowa. In 2015-2019 it was $79,995 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 7.2% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Adel | Dallas County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $95,250 ±$22,906 | $102,379 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $100,792 ±$9,586 | $137,324 | – |
| Per capita income | $37,696 ±$3,469 | $54,385 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 7.2% ±3.5 pts | 6.3% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 1.3% ±2.0 pts | 6.6% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 8.3% ±5.9 pts | 5.5% | – |
| Households with a computer | 96.3% ±2.8 pts | 97.8% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 94.6% ±3.1 pts | 92.4% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Adel?
Owners occupy 65.2% of Adel's occupied homes and renters 34.8%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $327,900 by its owner (±$26,562). The median renter pays $926 a month including utilities, and 42.0% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Adel | Dallas County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $327,900 ±$26,562 | $355,600 | +$106,006 |
| Median gross rent | $926 ±$195 | $1,311 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 42.0% ±15.2 pts | 29.1% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,940 ±$151 | $2,160 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 65.2% ±7.5 pts | 69.0% | −13.3 pts |
| Renter-occupied homes | 34.8% ±7.5 pts | 31.0% | – |
| Housing units | 2,421 ±211 | 44,804 | +579 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0% ±1.6 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 0.0% ±3.0 pts | 6.7% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 72.0% ±6.2 pts | 62.2% | – |
| Mobile homes | 2.3% ±1.9 pts | 2.0% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 4.7% ±2.6 pts | 7.9% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 35.2% ±6.3 pts | 32.4% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 15.7% ±7.6 pts | 9.1% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 5.6% ±4.8 pts | 2.9% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Adel building?
Builders took permits for 70 new housing units in Adel in 2025 (70 in single-family houses), 9.9 per 1,000 residents against 4.2 across Iowa.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Adel work and get to work?
76.2% of Adel's workers drive alone and 15.8% work from home. The average trip to work takes 21.8 minutes.
| Measure | Adel | Dallas County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 71.0% ±5.5 pts | 74.5% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 2.7% ±2.5 pts | 2.3% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 76.2% ±6.1 pts | 70.4% | – |
| Carpooled | 3.2% ±2.4 pts | 6.3% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±0.8 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Walked | 2.7% ±2.2 pts | 1.1% | – |
| Worked from home | 15.8% ±4.6 pts | 20.2% | +9.3 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 21.8 min ±2.2 | 21.2 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Adel?
1 census tract lies mostly in Adel, and 2 more reach into it (2020 census blocks).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 507Dallas County | 7,077 | $96,438 |
| Tract 509.02Dallas County | 8,221 | $129,484 |
| Tract 502Dallas County | 3,953 | $96,101 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Adel) · Census block assignment files
How does Adel compare with other places in Iowa?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Adel is the 4,034th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 59th-most populous of 939 in Iowa.
Adel ranks 47th of 279 places in Iowa with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 59th | 939 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 12th | 275 |
| Residents per square mile | 121st | 279 |
| Median household income | 47th | 279 |
| Per capita income | 129th | 279 |
| Median home value | 17th | 279 |
| Median gross rent | 87th | 266 |
| Poverty rate | 173rd | 232 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 49th | 279 |
| Median age | 211th | 279 |
| Owner-occupied share | 230th | 279 |
| Work from home | 35th | 221 |
| Travel time to work | 108th | 279 |
Adel's figures with every place in Iowa (CSV)
Every place in Iowa, sortable · Compare Adel with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Adel?
19 of the 57 figures for Adel on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Adel are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Adel.