City profile · Iowa · Census ACS 2023

Baxter, IA

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

1,251
Residents
$60,625
Median income
$162,300
Median home
$1,008
Median rent (state)

Baxter - the verdict

Baxter ranks in the 36th percentile for household income nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS.

36th
percentile, household income
31st
percentile, home value
20th
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: Baxter, IA

Baxter is a small town in Iowa, home to 1,251 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Median household income here is $60,625 per year, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 11.2%. Home values in Baxter run a median of $162,300, and the median resident age is 33.0 years. 20.1% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 63.7% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The city is served by 2 public schools according to NCES Common Core of Data.

Living costs in Iowa run below the national norm: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts Iowa at 87.8 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Well Below Average). Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $1,008 monthly. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Iowa's average monthly utility costs around $212 (state average). On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 43.7 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Low).

Population

1,251 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Iowa

Median Household Income

$60,625 /yr

Poverty 11.2%

Cost of Living Index (state)

87.8 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Iowa average

How does Baxter compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 36% higher than other cities
Home value 31% pricier than other cities
Median rent 20% 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 Baxter against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Iowa only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Iowa-relative analysis

Poverty Rate places Baxter toward the top of Iowa's cities

Among the 858 Iowa cities PlainCities tracks with reported poverty rate data, Baxter ranks #184 - the 78th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Baxter only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#522 of 845
38th percentile in Iowa
Median Gross Rent
#268 of 858
68th percentile in Iowa
Median Home Value
#226 of 849
73rd percentile in Iowa
Poverty Rate
#184 of 858
78th percentile in Iowa
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#339 of 858
60th 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.

36thIncome percentile

36th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Baxter's home value compares nationally

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

$162,300 Among the most affordable more affordable than 69% 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%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Baxter $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 - Baxter, IA Baxter, IA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Baxter, 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 Baxter, IA median $60,625/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%
Baxter, 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 Baxter, IA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 20.1%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 11.2%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 63.7%

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

Population
1,251
Median Income
$60,625
Median Home Value
$162,300
Median Age
33.0
Poverty Rate
11.2%
Labor force participation
63.7%
Bachelor's Degree+
20.1%

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 →
965 residents970 residents975 residents980 residents985 residents990 residents 202020212022202320242025 970 residents 984 residents ▲ +1.4%
Baxter's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
83.9%
Carpool
4.0%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
3.3%
Work from Home
7.9%
Other
0.9%

Based on 547 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 Baxter sits in

Cost of Living Index
87.8
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,008/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
43.7 / 100
Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Iowa

Elkader
1,249 people
Clarksville
1,248 people
Tripoli
1,256 people
Montezuma
1,257 people
Dike
1,258 people
Fayette
1,242 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Baxter's 1,251 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Buttonwillow, CA
1,251 people
March ARB, CA
1,251 people
Bellefonte, KY
1,251 people
Fyffe, AL
1,250 people
Diaz, AR
1,250 people
Plymouth, CA
1,250 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Baxter's $60,625 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Seba Dalkai, AZ
$60,625 median income
Lead Hill, AR
$60,625 median income
Magalia, CA
$60,625 median income
Whitmore, CA
$60,625 median income
Penney Farms, FL
$60,625 median income
Clark Fork, ID
$60,625 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Baxter, 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 Baxter, IA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 99.5% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 0.2% White 99.5% 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 0.5% 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 Baxter 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
Baxter (this city) 1,251 $60,625
Elkader 1,249 $61,786
Clarksville 1,248 $55,781
Tripoli 1,256 $75,988
Census ACS 5-year FIPS IA NCES CCD OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Baxter, IA?

What is the population of Baxter, IA? +

Baxter, IA counts 1,251 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

The median household income in Baxter is $60,625 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Baxter? +

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

Homes in Baxter carry a median value of $162,300, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NCES CCD, 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.