City profile · Iowa · Census ACS 2023

Elma, IA

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

618
Residents
$41,528
Median income
$71,400
Median home
$919
Median rent (state)

Elma - the verdict

Elma ranks in the 9th percentile for household income nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS.

9th
percentile, household income
2nd
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: Elma, IA

Elma is a small town in Iowa, home to 618 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. The typical household in Elma brings in $41,528 a year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 31.3%. Home values in Elma run a median of $71,400, and the median resident age is 48.0 years. Educational attainment runs 11.7% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 47.0% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 0 residential units authorized here in 2024 (No Permits).

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 $919 monthly. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Iowa's average monthly utility costs around $212 (state average). FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 15.6 out of 100 (Very Low).

Population

618 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Iowa

Median Household Income

$41,528 /yr

Poverty 31.3%

Cost of Living Index (state)

87.8 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Iowa average

How does Elma compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 9% higher than other cities
Home value 2% 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 Elma 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 Elma near the bottom of Iowa's cities

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

Median Household Income
#819 of 845
3rd percentile in Iowa
Median Gross Rent
#450 of 858
0th percentile in Iowa
Median Home Value
#734 of 849
13th percentile in Iowa
Poverty Rate
#9 of 858
99th percentile in Iowa
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#657 of 858
23rd 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.

9thIncome percentile

9th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Elma's home value compares nationally

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

$71,400 Among the most affordable more affordable than 98% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $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. Elma $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 - Elma, IA Elma, IA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Elma, 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 Elma, IA median $41,528/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%
Elma, 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 Elma, IA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 11.7%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 31.3%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 47.0%

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

Population
618
Median Income
$41,528
Median Home Value
$71,400
Median Age
48.0
Poverty Rate
31.3%
Labor force participation
47.0%
Bachelor's Degree+
11.7%

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
490 residents495 residents500 residents505 residents510 residents 202020212022202320242025 507 residents 492 residents ▼ -3.0%
Elma'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

Drive Alone
79.3%
Carpool
10.5%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
4.6%
Work from Home
5.5%

Based on 237 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 Elma 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
15.6 / 100
Very Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Iowa

Rolfe
618 people
Albion
617 people
Goldfield
616 people
Grand Junction
615 people
Elk Horn
623 people
Gilman
613 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Elma's 618 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Graham, GA
618 people
Chapin, IL
618 people
Cedar Vale, KS
618 people
Lancaster, MO
618 people
Anderson, NJ
618 people
Belfield, ND
618 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Elma's $41,528 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Ashland, LA
$41,528 median income
Meadowlands, MN
$41,528 median income
Crockett, TX
$41,528 median income
Bainbridge, GA
$41,531 median income
Patrick Springs, VA
$41,532 median income
Rector, AR
$41,534 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Elma, 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 Elma, IA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 91.9% 8.1% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 2.4% White 91.9% Black or African American 0.0% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.0% Two or more races 8.1% 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 Elma 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
Elma (this city) 618 $41,528
Rolfe 618 $54,861
Albion 617 $73,750
Goldfield 616 $54,500
Census ACS 5-year FIPS IA Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Elma, IA?

What is the population of Elma, IA? +

Elma, IA has a population of 618 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

Median annual household income in Elma runs $41,528, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Elma? +

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

A typical home in Elma is worth $71,400, 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.