City · Iowa
Elkader, Iowa
Elkader, city, in Clayton County, Iowa. Elkader had 1,183 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 2.6% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 1,209 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 1,293 (±231). GEOID 1924690.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
1,183
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 1,209 · ACS 2020-2024: 1,293 ±231
Median household income
$62,857
±$17,268 (90% margin)
Iowa: $75,059
Median home value
$143,200
±$18,616 (90% margin)
Iowa: $208,000
Median gross rent
$859
±$105 (90% margin)
Iowa: $972
Where is Elkader and what county is it in?
Elkader is a city in Clayton County, Iowa. It covers 1.4 square miles of land, 884 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 Elkader, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 1,183 people lived in Elkader on July 1, 2025, down 2.6% since 2020, while Iowa grew 1.5%. The 2020 Census counted 1,209 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 1,293 (±231).
| Measure | Elkader | Clayton County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 1,293 ±231 | 17,013 | no clear change |
| Households | 574 ±77 | 7,509 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.20 ±0.24 | 2.23 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 678 ±85 | 8,796 | no clear change |
Elkader's population since 2000
From 1,465 in 2000 to 1,183 in 2025: down 19.2%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Elkader 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 Elkader?
The median resident of Elkader is 40.5 years old; 24.2% are under 18 and 27.4% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 94.1%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 4.4%.
| Measure | Elkader | Clayton County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.5 ±5.2 | 46.4 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 24.2% ±4.0 pts | 21.6% | – |
| 65 years and over | 27.4% ±6.9 pts | 25.0% | – |
| Male | 49.2% ±4.0 pts | 50.3% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 4.4% ±4.2 pts | 2.3% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 94.1% ±4.5 pts | 95.0% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±1.9 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±1.9 pts | 0.3% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.2% ±0.4 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±1.9 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 1.2% ±1.5 pts | 1.7% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±1.9 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 2.2% ±2.8 pts | 2.3% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 2.4% ±2.9 pts | 5.7% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 9.8% ±3.3 pts | 8.2% | – |
| With a disability | 12.3% ±4.0 pts | 14.7% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 2.1% ±1.4 pts | 8.4% | – |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 96.9% ±2.5 pts | 92.6% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 26.0% ±6.8 pts | 14.5% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 6.9% ±3.3 pts | 3.9% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 86.5% ±10.2 pts | 90.0% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.4% ±1.9 pts | 1.4% | – |
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 Elkader earn?
Half of Elkader's 574 households earn less than $62,857 a year (±$17,268), against $67,242 in Clayton County and $75,059 in Iowa. In 2015-2019 it was $59,740 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 9.5% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Elkader | Clayton County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $62,857 ±$17,268 | $67,242 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $86,132 ±$19,270 | $86,441 | – |
| Per capita income | $38,661 ±$8,557 | $38,594 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 9.5% ±5.2 pts | 10.9% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 10.0% ±10.5 pts | 12.4% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 3.1% ±2.0 pts | 6.7% | – |
| Households with a computer | 89.5% ±5.1 pts | 89.5% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 85.2% ±6.3 pts | 84.4% | – |
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 Elkader?
Owners occupy 74.6% of Elkader's occupied homes and renters 25.4%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $143,200 by its owner (±$18,616). The median renter pays $859 a month including utilities, and 35.3% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Elkader | Clayton County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $143,200 ±$18,616 | $168,500 | +$33,176 |
| Median gross rent | $859 ±$105 | $790 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 35.3% ±21.7 pts | 36.3% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,418 ±$204 | $1,354 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 74.6% ±8.8 pts | 78.0% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 25.4% ±8.8 pts | 22.0% | – |
| Housing units | 678 ±85 | 8,796 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 5.1% ±5.3 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 5.2% ±8.2 pts | 2.9% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 74.9% ±6.9 pts | 81.2% | – |
| Mobile homes | 2.4% ±2.5 pts | 4.5% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.0% ±3.6 pts | 1.1% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 4.0% ±3.0 pts | 7.6% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 40.0% ±7.1 pts | 36.6% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 5.6% ±3.7 pts | 6.9% | – |
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 Elkader building?
Builders took permits for 1 new housing units in Elkader in 2025 (1 in single-family houses), 0.8 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 Elkader work and get to work?
76.0% of Elkader's workers drive alone and 12.6% work from home. The average trip to work takes 16.8 minutes.
| Measure | Elkader | Clayton County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 57.3% ±7.1 pts | 61.7% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 0.0% ±4.2 pts | 2.5% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 76.0% ±6.6 pts | 76.4% | – |
| Carpooled | 1.9% ±1.6 pts | 7.5% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.7% ±0.9 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Walked | 8.4% ±4.9 pts | 4.1% | – |
| Worked from home | 12.6% ±6.3 pts | 8.3% | no clear change |
| Mean travel time to work | 16.8 min ±2.5 | 23.1 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 Elkader?
No census tract lies mostly in Elkader; 1 tract reaches into it (2020 census blocks).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 703Clayton County | 3,286 | $72,813 |
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 Elkader) · Census block assignment files
How does Elkader compare with other places in Iowa?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Elkader is the 9,652nd-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 243rd-most populous of 939 in Iowa.
Elkader ranks 193rd 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 | 243rd | 939 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 220th | 275 |
| Residents per square mile | 190th | 279 |
| Median household income | 193rd | 279 |
| Per capita income | 109th | 279 |
| Median home value | 192nd | 279 |
| Median gross rent | 125th | 266 |
| Poverty rate | 132nd | 232 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 118th | 279 |
| Median age | 122nd | 279 |
| Owner-occupied share | 133rd | 279 |
| Work from home | 54th | 221 |
| Travel time to work | 212th | 279 |
Elkader's figures with every place in Iowa (CSV)
Every place in Iowa, sortable · Compare Elkader 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 Elkader?
21 of the 57 figures for Elkader 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 Elkader 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 Elkader.