City profile · Iowa · Census ACS 2023

Barnum, IA

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

279
Residents
$83,580
Median income
$132,500
Median home
$919
Median rent (state)

Barnum - the verdict

Nationally, Barnum sits in the 65th percentile for household income among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS.

65th
percentile, household income
21st
percentile, home value
6th
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: Barnum, IA

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 279 residents in Barnum, a small town within Iowa. Median household income here is $83,580 per year, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 7.4%. Typical homes in Barnum are valued around $132,500, and the median resident age is 27.1 years. About 2.0% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 75.6% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 3 residential building permits were authorized in Barnum (Low Activity), per Census BPS data.

Living costs in Iowa run below the national norm: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, Iowa scores 87.8 (Well Below Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $919 monthly. 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 60.0 out of 100 (Moderate).

Population

279 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Iowa

Median Household Income

$83,580 /yr

Poverty 7.4%

Cost of Living Index (state)

87.8 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Iowa average

How does Barnum compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 65% higher than other cities
Home value 21% pricier than other cities
Median rent 6% 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

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Barnum's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in Iowa, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

65thIncome percentile

65th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Barnum's home value compares nationally

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

$132,500 Among the most affordable more affordable than 79% 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. Barnum $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 - Barnum, IA Barnum, IA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Barnum, 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 Barnum, IA median $83,580/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%
Barnum, 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 Barnum, IA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 2.0%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 7.4%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 75.6%

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

Population
279
Median Income
$83,580
Median Home Value
$132,500
Median Age
27.1
Poverty Rate
7.4%
Labor force participation
75.6%
Bachelor's Degree+
2.0%

Schools

Total Schools
1
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
170 residents180 residents190 residents200 residents 202020212022202320242025 176 residents 194 residents ▲ +10.2%
Barnum's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

🏗️ Low Activity
Total Permits (2024)
3
housing units authorized
Single-Family
3
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
10.8
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 0
2020 0
2021 0
2022 3
2023 3
2024 3

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
83.1%
Carpool
6.5%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
4.8%
Work from Home
2.4%
Other
3.2%

Based on 124 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 Barnum sits in

Cost of Living Index
87.8
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$919/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
60.0 / 100
Moderate
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Iowa

Thor
276 people
Diamondhead Lake
283 people
Panama
283 people
Cleghorn
274 people
Stout
274 people
Rhodes
285 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Barnum's 279 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Sacate, AZ
279 people
Arriba, CO
279 people
Blairsville, IL
279 people
Bureau Junction, IL
279 people
Cloverland, IN
279 people
Copemish, MI
279 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Barnum's $83,580 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Oak Grove Heights, AR
$83,578 median income
Coaling, AL
$83,587 median income
Mokuleia, HI
$83,571 median income
Henderson, MI
$83,571 median income
Moapa Valley, NV
$83,571 median income
Paxtang, PA
$83,571 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Barnum, 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 Barnum, IA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 94.6% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 0.4% White 94.6% Black or African American 0.0% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.0% Two or more races 5.4% 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 Barnum 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
Barnum (this city) 279 $83,580
Thor 276 $56,250
Diamondhead Lake 283 $125,000
Panama 283 $61,250
Census ACS 5-year FIPS IA NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Barnum, IA?

What is the population of Barnum, IA? +

The population of Barnum, IA stands at 279 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

In Barnum, the typical household earns $83,580 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Barnum? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Barnum; 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 Barnum, IA? +

Homes in Barnum carry a median value of $132,500, 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 Editorial

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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.