City profile · Iowa · Census ACS 2023

Dickens, IA

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

134
Residents
$92,778
Median income
$98,000
Median home
$919
Median rent (state)

Dickens - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Dickens places in the 73rd percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

73rd
percentile, household income
9th
percentile, home value
6th
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: Dickens, IA

Dickens is a small town in Iowa, home to 134 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Dickens households earn a median of $92,778 annually, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 4.5%. Dickens's housing stock carries a median value of $98,000, and the median resident age is 49.5 years. 5.2% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 68.1% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 0 residential building permits were authorized in Dickens (No Permits), per Census BPS 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). HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $919 per month. Monthly utility costs average around $212 across Iowa, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. The average commute for Dickens workers runs 22.6 minutes, with 84.7% driving alone and 0.0% working from home. Natural-hazard exposure scores 36.4 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Very Low).

Population

134 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Iowa

Median Household Income

$92,778 /yr

Poverty 4.5%

Cost of Living Index (state)

87.8 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Iowa average

How does Dickens compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 73% higher than other cities
Home value 9% pricier than other cities
Median rent 6% 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 Dickens 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 places Dickens near the bottom of Iowa's cities

Among the 858 Iowa cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Dickens ranks #450 - the 0th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Dickens only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#84 of 845
90th percentile in Iowa
Median Gross Rent
#450 of 858
0th percentile in Iowa
Median Home Value
#549 of 849
35th percentile in Iowa
Poverty Rate
#513 of 858
39th percentile in Iowa
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#805 of 858
6th 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.

73rdIncome percentile

73rd percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Dickens's home value compares nationally

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

$98,000 Among the most affordable more affordable than 91% 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. Dickens $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 - Dickens, IA Dickens, IA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Dickens, 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 Dickens, IA median $92,778/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%
Dickens, 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 Dickens, IA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 5.2%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 4.5%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 68.1%

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

Population
134
Median Income
$92,778
Median Home Value
$98,000
Median Age
49.5
Poverty Rate
4.5%
Labor force participation
68.1%
Bachelor's Degree+
5.2%

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
144 residents145 residents146 residents147 residents148 residents149 residents 202020212022202320242025 147 residents 145 residents ▼ -1.4%
Dickens's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

Total Permits (2024)
0
housing units authorized
Single-Family
0
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 0
2020 0
2021 0
2022 0
2023 0
2024 0

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
22.6 minutes
Drive Alone
84.7%
Carpool
15.3%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
0.0%
Work from Home
0.0%

Based on 72 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 Dickens sits in

Cost of Living Index
87.8
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$919/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
36.4 / 100
Very Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Iowa

Fraser
134 people
Mitchell
134 people
Franklin
135 people
North Washington
133 people
Westfield
133 people
Clemons
132 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Dickens's 134 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Casa, AR
134 people
De Smet, ID
134 people
St. Johns, IL
134 people
Blooming Grove, IN
134 people
Cambridge, KY
134 people
Danvers, MN
134 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Dickens's $92,778 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Cimarron, KS
$92,762 median income
Orr, MN
$92,759 median income
Elmer, NJ
$92,757 median income
Swan Valley, ID
$92,750 median income
Bonanza, OR
$92,750 median income
Arnot, PA
$92,750 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Dickens, 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 Dickens, IA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 97.0% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 3.0% White 97.0% Black or African American 0.0% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.8% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.0% Two or more races 2.2% 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 Dickens 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
Dickens (this city) 134 $92,778
Fraser 134 $66,625
Mitchell 134 $66,250
Franklin 135 $47,500
Census ACS 5-year FIPS IA Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Dickens, IA?

What is the population of Dickens, IA? +

Dickens, IA counts 134 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

Dickens households earn a median of $92,778 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Dickens? +

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

Dickens's median home value sits at $98,000, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

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