City · Iowa
Atlantic, Iowa
Atlantic, city, in Cass County, Iowa. Atlantic had 6,676 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 1.6% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 6,792 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 6,763 (±18). GEOID 1903520.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
6,676
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 6,792 · ACS 2020-2024: 6,763 ±18
Median household income
$61,141
±$4,798 (90% margin)
Iowa: $75,059
Median home value
$149,900
±$14,635 (90% margin)
Iowa: $208,000
Median gross rent
$764
±$61 (90% margin)
Iowa: $972
Where is Atlantic and what county is it in?
Atlantic is a city in Cass County, Iowa. It covers 8.3 square miles of land, 819 residents per square mile in 2020.
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Atlantic, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 6,676 people lived in Atlantic on July 1, 2025, down 1.6% since 2020, while Iowa grew 1.5%. The 2020 Census counted 6,792 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 6,763 (±18).
| Measure | Atlantic | Cass County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 6,763 ±18 | 13,096 | +94 |
| Households | 3,261 ±100 | 5,844 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.02 ±0.06 | 2.20 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 3,577 ±127 | 6,393 | +202 |
Atlantic's population since 2000
From 7,257 in 2000 to 6,676 in 2025: down 8.0%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Atlantic 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 Atlantic?
The median resident of Atlantic is 43.5 years old; 19.3% are under 18 and 24.1% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 93.4%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 3.1%.
| Measure | Atlantic | Cass County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.5 ±2.0 | 43.5 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 19.3% ±2.0 pts | 23.2% | – |
| 65 years and over | 24.1% ±1.8 pts | 23.4% | – |
| Male | 48.3% ±1.9 pts | 49.3% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 3.1% ±1.6 pts | 2.7% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 93.4% ±2.1 pts | 93.5% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 1.7% ±0.3 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.4% ±0.5 pts | 0.5% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.3% ±0.5 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.4 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 0.8% ±0.7 pts | 1.6% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.4% ±0.6 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 0.7% ±0.6 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 1.3% ±0.9 pts | 1.4% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 5.9% ±2.3 pts | 6.4% | – |
| With a disability | 18.6% ±3.6 pts | 15.0% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 4.7% ±2.6 pts | 4.1% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 94.4% ±2.2 pts | 94.5% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 23.0% ±3.8 pts | 22.1% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 5.6% ±2.0 pts | 5.1% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 88.1% ±3.2 pts | 91.3% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 2.0% ±1.5 pts | 1.4% | – |
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 Atlantic earn?
Half of Atlantic's 3,261 households earn less than $61,141 a year (±$4,798), against $63,013 in Cass County and $75,059 in Iowa. In 2015-2019 the median was $51,125 in 2024 dollars, so it rose by $10,016 after inflation. 17.4% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Atlantic | Cass County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $61,141 ±$4,798 | $63,013 | +$10,016 |
| Mean household income | $80,704 ±$10,267 | $84,546 | – |
| Per capita income | $38,341 ±$4,205 | $37,667 | +$7,678 |
| People below the poverty line | 17.4% ±4.3 pts | 14.3% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 28.2% ±12.1 pts | 21.3% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 15.2% ±4.5 pts | 12.0% | – |
| Households with a computer | 92.8% ±2.5 pts | 92.0% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 84.2% ±4.2 pts | 83.9% | – |
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 Atlantic?
Owners occupy 62.6% of Atlantic's occupied homes and renters 37.4%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $149,900 by its owner (±$14,635). The median renter pays $764 a month including utilities, and 41.9% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Atlantic | Cass County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $149,900 ±$14,635 | $150,300 | no clear change |
| Median gross rent | $764 ±$61 | $777 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 41.9% ±9.4 pts | 39.3% | +14.7 pts |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,068 ±$106 | $1,128 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 62.6% ±4.9 pts | 71.6% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 37.4% ±4.9 pts | 28.4% | – |
| Housing units | 3,577 ±127 | 6,393 | +202 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0% ±1.2 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 7.4% ±5.5 pts | 6.2% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 73.4% ±4.2 pts | 81.7% | – |
| Mobile homes | 2.0% ±2.3 pts | 2.3% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.2% ±0.4 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 1.5% ±1.3 pts | 3.0% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 28.6% ±5.6 pts | 38.1% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 7.3% ±2.7 pts | 5.7% | – |
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 Atlantic building?
Builders took permits for 0 new housing units in Atlantic in 2025 (0 in single-family houses), 0.0 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 Atlantic work and get to work?
79.5% of Atlantic's workers drive alone and 10.2% work from home. The average trip to work takes 10.8 minutes.
| Measure | Atlantic | Cass County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 64.1% ±3.4 pts | 63.5% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 1.1% ±1.0 pts | 1.4% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 79.5% ±4.8 pts | 79.7% | – |
| Carpooled | 4.4% ±2.8 pts | 4.9% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.1% ±0.3 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Walked | 3.1% ±2.3 pts | 3.8% | – |
| Worked from home | 10.2% ±4.0 pts | 10.0% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 10.8 min ±1.4 | 15.1 min | −3.7 min |
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 Atlantic?
2 census tracts lie mostly in Atlantic, and 1 more reaches into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $47,841 (Tract 1905) to $64,703 (Tract 1904).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 1904Cass County | 4,235 | $64,703 |
| Tract 1905Cass County | 2,708 | $47,841 |
| Tract 1901Cass County | 2,376 | $75,403 |
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 Atlantic) · Census block assignment files
How does Atlantic compare with other places in Iowa?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Atlantic is the 4,173rd-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 63rd-most populous of 939 in Iowa.
Atlantic ranks 203rd 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 | 63rd | 939 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 178th | 275 |
| Residents per square mile | 205th | 279 |
| Median household income | 203rd | 279 |
| Per capita income | 113th | 279 |
| Median home value | 181st | 279 |
| Median gross rent | 193rd | 266 |
| Poverty rate | 29th | 232 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 157th | 279 |
| Median age | 61st | 279 |
| Owner-occupied share | 251st | 279 |
| Work from home | 94th | 221 |
| Travel time to work | 277th | 279 |
Atlantic's figures with every place in Iowa (CSV)
Every place in Iowa, sortable · Compare Atlantic 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 Atlantic?
16 of the 57 figures for Atlantic 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 Atlantic 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 Atlantic.