City profile · Iowa · Census ACS 2023

Chariton, IA

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

4,235
Residents
$52,109
Median income
$84,200
Median home
$975
Median rent (state)

Chariton - the verdict

Chariton ranks in the 23rd percentile for household income nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS.

23rd
percentile, household income
4th
percentile, home value
18th
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: Chariton, IA

Iowa's Chariton is a small town, with 4,235 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. Chariton households earn a median of $52,109 annually, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 20.1%. Home values in Chariton run a median of $84,200, and the median resident age is 40.5 years. About 12.6% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 58.8% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 28 residential building permits were authorized in Chariton (Building Boom), up 300% from five years earlier, per Census BPS data. NOAA puts Chariton's yearly average temperature at 48.3°F with 37.3 inches of precipitation per year and 24.1 inches of snowfall.

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). A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $975 per month statewide. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Iowa's average monthly utility costs around $212 (state average). FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 29.7 out of 100 (Very Low).

Population

4,235 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Iowa

Median Household Income

$52,109 /yr

Poverty 20.1%

Cost of Living Index (state)

87.8 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Iowa average

How does Chariton compare to other US cities?

Here's how Chariton stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 23% higher than other cities
Home value 4% pricier than other cities
Median rent 18% 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 Chariton 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 is Chariton's strongest outlier among Iowa cities

Among the 858 Iowa cities PlainCities tracks with reported poverty rate data, Chariton ranks #42 - the 95th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Chariton only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#710 of 845
16th percentile in Iowa
Median Gross Rent
#313 of 858
63rd percentile in Iowa
Median Home Value
#657 of 849
22nd percentile in Iowa
Poverty Rate
#42 of 858
95th percentile in Iowa
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#626 of 858
26th 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.

23rdIncome percentile

23rd percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Chariton's home value compares nationally

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

$84,200 Among the most affordable more affordable than 96% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Above this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $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. Chariton $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 - Chariton, IA Chariton, IA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Chariton, 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 Chariton, IA median $52,109/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%
Chariton, 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 Chariton, IA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 12.6%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 20.1%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 58.8%

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

Population
4,235
Median Income
$52,109
Median Home Value
$84,200
Median Age
40.5
Poverty Rate
20.1%
Labor force participation
58.8%
Bachelor's Degree+
12.6%

Climate

Avg Temperature
48.3°F
Annual Precipitation
37.3"
Annual Snowfall
24.1"

Schools

Total Schools
4
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
4,150 residents4,200 residents4,250 residents4,300 residents4,350 residents4,400 residents 202020212022202320242025 4,185 residents 4,347 residents ▲ +3.9%
Chariton's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

📈 Building Boom
Total Permits (2024)
28
housing units authorized
Single-Family
2
detached homes
Multifamily
26
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
6.6
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 7
2020 2
2021 3
2022 33
2023 0
2024 28

Permit volume increased 300% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
81.8%
Carpool
7.9%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
2.9%
Work from Home
5.8%
Other
1.6%

Based on 1,957 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 Chariton sits in

Cost of Living Index
87.8
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$975/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
29.7 / 100
Very Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Iowa

Forest City
4,280 people
Carlisle
4,187 people
Jefferson
4,164 people
Hampton
4,311 people
Dyersville
4,357 people
Rock Valley
4,061 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Chariton's 4,235 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Forty Fort, PA
4,235 people
French Island, WI
4,235 people
Westborough, MA
4,234 people
Greencastle, PA
4,237 people
County Center, VA
4,233 people
Lake View, AL
4,238 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Chariton's $52,109 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Sun, AZ
$52,111 median income
Crystal River, FL
$52,112 median income
Nora, IL
$52,112 median income
Marion, MT
$52,105 median income
Arthur, IL
$52,115 median income
Yuma, CO
$52,102 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Chariton, 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 Chariton, IA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 94.5% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 3.1% White 94.5% Black or African American 0.4% Asian 1.5% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.0% Two or more races 3.6% 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 Chariton 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
Chariton (this city) 4,235 $52,109
Forest City 4,280 $62,917
Carlisle 4,187 $98,333
Jefferson 4,164 $54,286
Census ACS 5-year FIPS IA NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Chariton, IA?

What is the population of Chariton, IA? +

Chariton, IA counts 4,235 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

Median annual household income in Chariton runs $52,109, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Chariton? +

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

A typical home in Chariton is worth $84,200, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Chariton? +

The average annual temperature in Chariton runs 48.3°F, 37.3 inches of precipitation, and 24.1 inches of snowfall per year. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NOAA Climate Normals, 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.