City · Iowa
Garner, Iowa
Garner, city, in Hancock County, Iowa. Garner had 3,029 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 1.1% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 3,065 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 3,049 (±14). GEOID 1929955.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
3,029
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 3,065 · ACS 2020-2024: 3,049 ±14
Median household income
$70,726
±$8,706 (90% margin)
Iowa: $75,059
Median home value
$186,300
±$22,080 (90% margin)
Iowa: $208,000
Median gross rent
$740
±$32 (90% margin)
Iowa: $972
Where is Garner and what county is it in?
Garner is a city in Hancock County, Iowa. It covers 2.1 square miles of land, 1,442 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 Garner, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 3,029 people lived in Garner on July 1, 2025, down 1.1% since 2020, while Iowa grew 1.5%. The 2020 Census counted 3,065 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 3,049 (±14).
| Measure | Garner | Hancock County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 3,049 ±14 | 10,671 | no clear change |
| Households | 1,381 ±72 | 4,673 | +128 |
| Average household size | 2.15 ±0.11 | 2.23 | −0.25 |
| Housing units | 1,411 ±84 | 5,116 | no clear change |
Garner's population since 2000
From 2,922 in 2000 to 3,029 in 2025: up 3.7%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Garner 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 Garner?
The median resident of Garner is 47.0 years old; 18.8% are under 18 and 30.0% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 94.0%, then non-Hispanic residents of two or more races at 2.9%.
| Measure | Garner | Hancock County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.0 ±4.9 | 44.6 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 18.8% ±2.7 pts | 21.0% | – |
| 65 years and over | 30.0% ±4.0 pts | 23.9% | – |
| Male | 47.2% ±3.2 pts | 51.4% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 2.0% ±2.2 pts | 6.0% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 94.0% ±2.8 pts | 90.1% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 1.0% ±1.2 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.8 pts | 0.9% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.8 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.8 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 2.9% ±1.7 pts | 1.9% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.1% ±0.3 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 3.1% ±2.1 pts | 2.1% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 1.8% ±1.4 pts | 4.4% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 9.8% ±2.8 pts | 7.6% | – |
| With a disability | 14.5% ±4.3 pts | 13.3% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 7.9% ±4.0 pts | 5.8% | – |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 90.6% ±4.4 pts | 91.4% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 21.9% ±5.7 pts | 20.5% | −12.7 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 6.1% ±2.9 pts | 5.4% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 90.9% ±3.6 pts | 89.9% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 3.0% ±2.1 pts | 2.9% | – |
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 Garner earn?
Half of Garner's 1,381 households earn less than $70,726 a year (±$8,706), against $70,601 in Hancock County and $75,059 in Iowa. In 2015-2019 the median was $85,941 in 2024 dollars, so it fell by $15,215 after inflation. 11.5% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Garner | Hancock County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $70,726 ±$8,706 | $70,601 | −$15,215 |
| Mean household income | $80,948 ±$13,333 | $86,692 | – |
| Per capita income | $36,545 ±$6,239 | $38,092 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 11.5% ±5.6 pts | 12.2% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 6.4% ±6.5 pts | 16.6% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 5.0% ±3.4 pts | 6.5% | – |
| Households with a computer | 89.4% ±4.2 pts | 92.0% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 88.1% ±5.1 pts | 88.4% | – |
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 Garner?
Owners occupy 80.2% of Garner's occupied homes and renters 19.8%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $186,300 by its owner (±$22,080). The median renter pays $740 a month including utilities, and 36.4% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Garner | Hancock County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $186,300 ±$22,080 | $141,400 | +$31,479 |
| Median gross rent | $740 ±$32 | $736 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 36.4% ±17.7 pts | 34.8% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,198 ±$96 | $1,182 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 80.2% ±6.5 pts | 82.5% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 19.8% ±6.5 pts | 17.5% | – |
| Housing units | 1,411 ±84 | 5,116 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0% ±2.2 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 0.0% ±8.7 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 75.5% ±7.2 pts | 85.2% | – |
| Mobile homes | 3.3% ±3.0 pts | 4.4% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.0% ±1.8 pts | 1.1% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 6.1% ±3.6 pts | 3.7% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 21.5% ±5.9 pts | 32.2% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 9.3% ±4.3 pts | 5.1% | – |
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 Garner building?
Builders took permits for 2 new housing units in Garner 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 Garner work and get to work?
79.5% of Garner's workers drive alone. The average trip to work takes 11.0 minutes.
| Measure | Garner | Hancock County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 56.9% ±6.0 pts | 63.2% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 1.9% ±2.2 pts | 1.9% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 79.5% ±8.5 pts | 78.1% | – |
| Carpooled | 12.8% ±6.8 pts | 9.4% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±1.8 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Walked | 2.8% ±3.2 pts | 3.3% | – |
| Worked from home | 5.0% ±4.6 pts | 7.1% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 11.0 min ±2.3 | 19.1 min | −4.4 min |
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 Garner?
1 census tract lies mostly in Garner, and 1 more reaches into it (2020 census blocks).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 2701Hancock County | 3,817 | $70,826 |
| Tract 2702Hancock County | 2,409 | $74,659 |
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 Garner) · Census block assignment files
How does Garner compare with other places in Iowa?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Garner is the 6,306th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 120th-most populous of 939 in Iowa.
Garner ranks 134th 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 | 120th | 939 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 155th | 275 |
| Residents per square mile | 59th | 279 |
| Median household income | 134th | 279 |
| Per capita income | 154th | 279 |
| Median home value | 106th | 279 |
| Median gross rent | 211th | 266 |
| Poverty rate | 97th | 232 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 172nd | 279 |
| Median age | 29th | 279 |
| Owner-occupied share | 72nd | 279 |
| Travel time to work | 276th | 279 |
Garner's figures with every place in Iowa (CSV)
Every place in Iowa, sortable · Compare Garner 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 Garner?
19 of the 57 figures for Garner 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 Garner 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 Garner.