City · Iowa
Clarion, Iowa
Clarion, city, in Wright County, Iowa. Clarion had 2,758 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 1.9% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 2,810 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 2,770 (±29). GEOID 1913620.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
2,758
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 2,810 · ACS 2020-2024: 2,770 ±29
Median household income
$64,625
±$8,432 (90% margin)
Iowa: $75,059
Median home value
$116,200
±$11,140 (90% margin)
Iowa: $208,000
Median gross rent
$763
±$31 (90% margin)
Iowa: $972
Where is Clarion and what county is it in?
Clarion is a city in Wright County, Iowa. It covers 3.4 square miles of land, 837 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 Clarion, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 2,758 people lived in Clarion on July 1, 2025, down 1.9% since 2020, while Iowa grew 1.5%. The 2020 Census counted 2,810 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 2,770 (±29).
| Measure | Clarion | Wright County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 2,770 ±29 | 12,791 | no clear change |
| Households | 1,319 ±103 | 5,353 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.02 ±0.16 | 2.35 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 1,512 ±120 | 6,278 | no clear change |
Clarion's population since 2000
From 2,968 in 2000 to 2,758 in 2025: down 7.1%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Clarion 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 Clarion?
The median resident of Clarion is 41.2 years old; 19.3% are under 18 and 19.5% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 76.9%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 18.8%. 5.5% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Clarion | Wright County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.2 ±10.6 | 39.4 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 19.3% ±3.5 pts | 26.0% | – |
| 65 years and over | 19.5% ±4.1 pts | 22.1% | – |
| Male | 52.4% ±3.8 pts | 50.3% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 18.8% ±8.6 pts | 19.9% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 76.9% ±8.2 pts | 75.5% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.1% ±0.2 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.4% ±0.6 pts | 0.5% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.9 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.9 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 0.9% ±1.1 pts | 2.2% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 3.0% ±3.3 pts | 1.4% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 5.5% ±3.0 pts | 6.5% | −7.9 pts |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 16.6% ±7.5 pts | 14.5% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 8.5% ±2.9 pts | 8.2% | – |
| With a disability | 14.0% ±4.2 pts | 13.8% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 6.4% ±3.6 pts | 5.8% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 87.1% ±4.3 pts | 91.7% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 26.4% ±7.0 pts | 24.9% | +12.2 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 11.5% ±3.4 pts | 6.5% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 89.6% ±4.2 pts | 89.8% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.4% ±1.4 pts | 1.0% | – |
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 Clarion earn?
Half of Clarion's 1,319 households earn less than $64,625 a year (±$8,432), against $67,190 in Wright County and $75,059 in Iowa. In 2015-2019 the median was $51,335 in 2024 dollars, so it rose by $13,290 after inflation.
| Measure | Clarion | Wright County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $64,625 ±$8,432 | $67,190 | +$13,290 |
| Mean household income | $91,432 ±$15,486 | $94,511 | – |
| Per capita income | $44,462 ±$7,933 | $39,059 | +$14,678 |
| People below the poverty line | 10.5% ±7.4 pts | 16.8% | – |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 10.7% ±16.1 pts | 29.5% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 5.0% ±3.4 pts | 9.5% | – |
| Households with a computer | 83.4% ±8.3 pts | 90.9% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 86.1% ±6.3 pts | 85.8% | – |
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 Clarion?
Owners occupy 70.0% of Clarion's occupied homes and renters 30.0%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $116,200 by its owner (±$11,140). The median renter pays $763 a month including utilities.
| Measure | Clarion | Wright County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $116,200 ±$11,140 | $119,600 | no clear change |
| Median gross rent | $763 ±$31 | $790 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 20.2% ±13.3 pts | 29.1% | – |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,136 ±$168 | $1,178 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 70.0% ±7.9 pts | 77.0% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 30.0% ±7.9 pts | 23.0% | – |
| Housing units | 1,512 ±120 | 6,278 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0% ±2.7 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 21.4% ±15.6 pts | 13.9% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 76.5% ±6.7 pts | 85.5% | – |
| Mobile homes | 2.4% ±3.0 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.0% ±1.6 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 2.0% ±1.9 pts | 3.0% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 23.2% ±7.4 pts | 30.4% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 3.4% ±2.8 pts | 4.4% | – |
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 Clarion building?
Builders took permits for 2 new housing units in Clarion in 2025 (2 in single-family houses), 0.7 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 Clarion work and get to work?
83.8% of Clarion's workers drive alone and 5.6% work from home. The average trip to work takes 13.1 minutes.
| Measure | Clarion | Wright County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 67.1% ±4.4 pts | 60.1% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 2.3% ±2.1 pts | 1.8% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 83.8% ±6.7 pts | 79.1% | – |
| Carpooled | 7.8% ±5.2 pts | 8.0% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.3% ±2.2 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Walked | 1.5% ±1.6 pts | 3.4% | – |
| Worked from home | 5.6% ±3.2 pts | 7.9% | no clear change |
| Mean travel time to work | 13.1 min ±2.0 | 20.2 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 Clarion?
1 census tract lies mostly in Clarion (2020 census blocks).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 6803Wright County | 3,157 | $68,203 |
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 Clarion) · Census block assignment files
How does Clarion compare with other places in Iowa?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Clarion is the 6,607th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 132nd-most populous of 939 in Iowa.
Clarion ranks 179th 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 | 132nd | 939 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 186th | 275 |
| Residents per square mile | 201st | 279 |
| Median household income | 179th | 279 |
| Per capita income | 50th | 279 |
| Median home value | 240th | 279 |
| Median gross rent | 195th | 266 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 115th | 279 |
| Median age | 103rd | 279 |
| Owner-occupied share | 180th | 279 |
| Work from home | 184th | 221 |
| Travel time to work | 263rd | 279 |
Clarion's figures with every place in Iowa (CSV)
Every place in Iowa, sortable · Compare Clarion 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 Clarion?
21 of the 57 figures for Clarion 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 Clarion 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 Clarion.