City · Iowa
Cherokee, Iowa
Cherokee, city, in Cherokee County, Iowa. Cherokee had 5,122 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 1.3% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 5,199 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 5,154 (±38). GEOID 1913080.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
5,122
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 5,199 · ACS 2020-2024: 5,154 ±38
Median household income
$61,750
±$10,015 (90% margin)
Iowa: $75,059
Median home value
$136,700
±$43,814 (90% margin)
Iowa: $208,000
Median gross rent
$728
±$113 (90% margin)
Iowa: $972
Where is Cherokee and what county is it in?
Cherokee is a city in Cherokee County, Iowa. It covers 6.8 square miles of land, 761 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 Cherokee, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 5,122 people lived in Cherokee on July 1, 2025, down 1.3% since 2020, while Iowa grew 1.5%. The 2020 Census counted 5,199 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 5,154 (±38).
| Measure | Cherokee | Cherokee County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 5,154 ±38 | 11,600 | +234 |
| Households | 2,289 ±171 | 5,045 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.11 ±0.15 | 2.22 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 2,379 ±133 | 5,557 | no clear change |
Cherokee's population since 2000
From 5,369 in 2000 to 5,122 in 2025: down 4.6%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Cherokee 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 Cherokee?
The median resident of Cherokee is 43.2 years old; 22.4% are under 18 and 23.1% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 85.3%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 8.1%. 5.9% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Cherokee | Cherokee County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.2 ±2.7 | 44.0 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 22.4% ±3.2 pts | 22.2% | – |
| 65 years and over | 23.1% ±3.1 pts | 24.9% | – |
| Male | 48.6% ±2.6 pts | 50.1% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 8.1% ±2.7 pts | 5.4% | +7.9 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 85.3% ±3.5 pts | 88.6% | −9.6 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.3% ±0.6 pts | 1.0% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.8% ±1.1 pts | 0.4% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.5 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.5 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 5.5% ±2.8 pts | 4.5% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.5 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 5.9% ±2.6 pts | 3.6% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 9.0% ±3.2 pts | 6.1% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 6.7% ±2.6 pts | 8.1% | – |
| With a disability | 12.8% ±3.3 pts | 12.0% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 7.0% ±4.3 pts | 4.8% | – |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 92.3% ±3.0 pts | 93.2% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 24.6% ±5.2 pts | 23.4% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 9.7% ±2.9 pts | 8.3% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 80.4% ±6.9 pts | 87.3% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 0.7% ±0.7 pts | 1.2% | – |
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 Cherokee earn?
Half of Cherokee's 2,289 households earn less than $61,750 a year (±$10,015), against $71,269 in Cherokee County and $75,059 in Iowa. In 2015-2019 it was $57,443 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 18.5% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Cherokee | Cherokee County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $61,750 ±$10,015 | $71,269 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $86,635 ±$13,122 | $93,726 | – |
| Per capita income | $38,225 ±$4,692 | $41,258 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 18.5% ±7.3 pts | 12.1% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 29.7% ±18.3 pts | 16.6% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 10.4% ±4.6 pts | 7.0% | – |
| Households with a computer | 88.9% ±4.2 pts | 90.2% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 85.4% ±4.5 pts | 87.1% | – |
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 Cherokee?
Owners occupy 67.8% of Cherokee's occupied homes and renters 32.2%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $136,700 by its owner (±$43,814). The median renter pays $728 a month including utilities, and 46.8% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Cherokee | Cherokee County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $136,700 ±$43,814 | $158,700 | no clear change |
| Median gross rent | $728 ±$113 | $758 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 46.8% ±15.3 pts | 39.6% | +22.1 pts |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,281 ±$231 | $1,307 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 67.8% ±5.9 pts | 75.5% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 32.2% ±5.9 pts | 24.5% | – |
| Housing units | 2,379 ±133 | 5,557 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 4.3% ±5.8 pts | 2.3% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 0.0% ±3.3 pts | 1.7% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 76.8% ±6.0 pts | 84.1% | – |
| Mobile homes | 1.6% ±1.8 pts | 2.5% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.0% ±1.0 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 3.0% ±2.4 pts | 2.8% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 27.1% ±5.9 pts | 34.5% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 7.3% ±4.0 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 Cherokee building?
Builders took permits for 41 new housing units in Cherokee in 2025 (5 in single-family houses), 8.0 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 Cherokee work and get to work?
79.2% of Cherokee's workers drive alone and 8.5% work from home. The average trip to work takes 12.4 minutes.
| Measure | Cherokee | Cherokee County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 65.1% ±4.6 pts | 66.2% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 2.4% ±2.2 pts | 2.5% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 79.2% ±7.1 pts | 77.9% | – |
| Carpooled | 7.6% ±4.3 pts | 7.8% | – |
| Public transportation | 1.7% ±2.2 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Walked | 2.9% ±2.1 pts | 3.8% | – |
| Worked from home | 8.5% ±4.1 pts | 8.6% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 12.4 min ±1.7 | 16.7 min | no clear change |
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 Cherokee?
2 census tracts lie mostly in Cherokee, and 2 more reach into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $60,980 (Tract 801.01) to $68,750 (Tract 801.02).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 801.01Cherokee County | 3,324 | $60,980 |
| Tract 801.02Cherokee County | 2,165 | $68,750 |
| Tract 804Cherokee County | 2,064 | $72,310 |
| Tract 802Cherokee County | 2,446 | $86,357 |
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 Cherokee) · Census block assignment files
How does Cherokee compare with other places in Iowa?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Cherokee is the 4,821st-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 84th-most populous of 939 in Iowa.
Cherokee ranks 199th 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 | 84th | 939 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 159th | 275 |
| Residents per square mile | 214th | 279 |
| Median household income | 199th | 279 |
| Per capita income | 117th | 279 |
| Median home value | 201st | 279 |
| Median gross rent | 216th | 266 |
| Poverty rate | 21st | 232 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 136th | 279 |
| Median age | 65th | 279 |
| Owner-occupied share | 205th | 279 |
| Work from home | 126th | 221 |
| Travel time to work | 269th | 279 |
Cherokee's figures with every place in Iowa (CSV)
Every place in Iowa, sortable · Compare Cherokee 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 Cherokee?
14 of the 57 figures for Cherokee 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 Cherokee 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 Cherokee.