City profile · Iowa · Census ACS 2023

Dallas Center, IA

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

2,058
Residents
$88,750
Median income
$231,100
Median home
$1,318
Median rent (state)

Dallas Center - the verdict

Nationally, Dallas Center sits in the 70th percentile for household income among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS.

70th
percentile, household income
51st
percentile, home value
47th
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: Dallas Center, IA

2,058 people live in Dallas Center, Iowa - a small town by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Dallas Center households earn a median of $88,750 annually, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 2.4%. Home values in Dallas Center run a median of $231,100, and the median resident age is 38.4 years. 27.2% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 61.9% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Housing supply pressure shows in Census Building Permit Survey data: 7 residential units were authorized in 2024 (Stable), up 0% from five years earlier.

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 $1,318 monthly. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Iowa's average monthly utility costs around $212 (state average). Natural-hazard exposure scores 60.6 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Moderate).

Population

2,058 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Iowa

Median Household Income

$88,750 /yr

Poverty 2.4%

Cost of Living Index (state)

87.8 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Iowa average

How does Dallas Center compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 70% higher than other cities
Home value 51% pricier than other cities
Median rent 47% 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 Dallas Center against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Iowa only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Iowa-relative analysis

Median Gross Rent is Dallas Center's strongest outlier among Iowa cities

Among the 858 Iowa cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Dallas Center ranks #34 - the 90th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Dallas Center only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#100 of 845
88th percentile in Iowa
Median Gross Rent
#34 of 858
90th percentile in Iowa
Median Home Value
#87 of 849
90th percentile in Iowa
Poverty Rate
#655 of 858
23rd percentile in Iowa
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#161 of 858
81st 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.

70thIncome percentile

70th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Dallas Center's home value compares nationally

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

$231,100 49th percentile more affordable than 49% 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%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Dallas Center $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 - Dallas Center, IA Dallas Center, IA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Dallas Center, 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 Dallas Center, IA median $88,750/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%
Dallas Center, 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 Dallas Center, IA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 27.2%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 2.4%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 61.9%

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

Population
2,058
Median Income
$88,750
Median Home Value
$231,100
Median Age
38.4
Poverty Rate
2.4%
Labor force participation
61.9%
Bachelor's Degree+
27.2%

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 →
1,850 residents1,900 residents1,950 residents2,000 residents2,050 residents2,100 residents 202020212022202320242025 1,909 residents 2,042 residents ▲ +7.0%
Dallas Center's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

🏗️ Stable
Total Permits (2024)
7
housing units authorized
Single-Family
7
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
3.4
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 7
2020 7
2021 19
2022 17
2023 10
2024 7

Permit volume increased 0% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
79.9%
Carpool
3.2%
Public Transit
0.7%
Walk
2.0%
Work from Home
13.7%

Based on 970 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 Dallas Center sits in

Cost of Living Index
87.8
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,318/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
60.6 / 100
Moderate
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Iowa

Lake Mills
2,054 people
Audubon
2,069 people
Monroe
2,074 people
Toledo
2,079 people
Ely
2,033 people
Colfax
2,089 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Dallas Center's 2,058 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Priest River, ID
2,058 people
Meyersdale, PA
2,058 people
Millville, DE
2,059 people
Redington Shores, FL
2,057 people
Kentwood, LA
2,057 people
Montrose, MI
2,057 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Dallas Center's $88,750 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Aleknagik, AK
$88,750 median income
Kaktovik, AK
$88,750 median income
Port Graham, AK
$88,750 median income
Hunter, AR
$88,750 median income
Plumas Eureka, CA
$88,750 median income
Timber Cove, CA
$88,750 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Dallas Center, 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 Dallas Center, IA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 95.4% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 3.7% White 95.4% Black or African American 0.0% Asian 0.5% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 1.0% Two or more races 3.1% 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 Dallas Center 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
Dallas Center (this city) 2,058 $88,750
Lake Mills 2,054 $70,333
Audubon 2,069 $41,389
Monroe 2,074 $81,488
Census ACS 5-year FIPS IA NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Dallas Center, IA?

What is the population of Dallas Center, IA? +

Dallas Center, IA has a population of 2,058 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Dallas Center, IA? +

Median annual household income in Dallas Center runs $88,750, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Dallas Center? +

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

The median home value in Dallas Center is $231,100, 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

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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.