City profile · Iowa · Census ACS 2023

Alta, IA

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Alta - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

2,344
Residents
$66,118
Median income
$125,800
Median home
$1,010
Median rent (state)

Alta - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Alta lands in the 45th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

45th
percentile, household income
20th
percentile, home value
21st
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Alta, IA

Alta is a small town in Iowa, home to 2,344 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Alta households earn a median of $66,118 annually, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 7.0%. Alta's housing stock carries a median value of $125,800, and the median resident age is 37.6 years. Educational attainment runs 20.5% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 61.8% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Housing supply pressure shows in Census Building Permit Survey data: 0 residential units were authorized in 2024 (No Permits), down 100% from five years earlier.

Living costs in Iowa run below the national norm: the state registers 87.8 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Well Below Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $1,010 per month statewide. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Iowa run around $212, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 39.3 out of 100 (Very Low).

Population

2,344 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Iowa

Median Household Income

$66,118 /yr

Poverty 7.0%

Cost of Living Index (state)

87.8 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Iowa average

How does Alta compare to other US cities?

Where Alta sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 45% higher than other cities
Home value 20% pricier than other cities
Median rent 21% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Alta against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Iowa only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Iowa-relative analysis

Median Gross Rent sits close to the middle of Iowa's city distribution

Among the 858 Iowa cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Alta ranks #258 - the 69th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Alta only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#408 of 845
52nd percentile in Iowa
Median Gross Rent
#258 of 858
69th percentile in Iowa
Median Home Value
#381 of 849
55th percentile in Iowa
Poverty Rate
#370 of 858
56th percentile in Iowa
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#322 of 858
62nd percentile in Iowa

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Iowa only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

45thIncome percentile

45th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Alta's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$125,800 Among the most affordable more affordable than 80% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). This entry sits in this band. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Alta $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Alta, IA Alta, IA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Alta, IA-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Alta, IA median $66,118/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Alta, IA's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Alta, IA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 20.5%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 7.0%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 61.8%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
2,344
Median Income
$66,118
Median Home Value
$125,800
Median Age
37.6
Poverty Rate
7.0%
Labor force participation
61.8%
Bachelor's Degree+
20.5%

Schools

Total Schools
2
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
1,900 residents1,950 residents2,000 residents2,050 residents2,100 residents2,150 residents 202020212022202320242025 2,089 residents 1,958 residents ▼ -6.3%
Alta's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

Total Permits (2024)
0
housing units authorized
Single-Family
0
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 3
2020 1
2021 5
2022 2
2023 2
2024 0

Permit volume decreased 100% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
76.6%
Carpool
17.3%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
0.9%
Work from Home
4.5%
Other
0.7%

Based on 1,055 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Iowa - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$95
avg/month
Natural Gas
$75
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$42
avg/month
Total Utilities
$212
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Iowa state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Iowa state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Alta sits in

Cost of Living Index
87.8
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,010/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
39.3 / 100
Very Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Iowa

Atkins
2,347 people
West Union
2,393 people
New London
2,402 people
Belle Plaine
2,412 people
Bellevue
2,256 people
Hull
2,248 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Alta's 2,344 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Greenbriar, FL
2,344 people
Elk Creek, KY
2,344 people
Lakeland, NY
2,344 people
Lithopolis, OH
2,344 people
Fort Hall, ID
2,343 people
Fulton, KY
2,345 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Alta's $66,118 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Mount Clare, IL
$66,125 median income
Roxana, IL
$66,125 median income
Nicholson, PA
$66,111 median income
Eldorado, TX
$66,125 median income
Gunnison, UT
$66,111 median income
Pine Ridge CDP (Citrus County), FL
$66,131 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Alta, IA Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Alta, IA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 63.4% 7.4% 12.5% 9.0% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 20.4% White 63.4% Black or African American 7.4% Asian 12.5% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 2.1% Some other race 9.0% Two or more races 5.7% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Alta compares to nearby Iowa cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Alta (this city) 2,344 $66,118
Atkins 2,347 $115,625
West Union 2,393 $50,909
New London 2,402 $65,815
Census ACS 5-year FIPS IA NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Alta, IA?

What is the population of Alta, IA? +

2,344 people live in Alta, IA according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Alta, IA? +

The median household income in Alta is $66,118 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Alta? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Alta; the closest available measure is the Iowa state average, a cost of living index of 87.8 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Well Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Iowa vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Alta, IA? +

Alta's median home value sits at $125,800, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.