City profile · Iowa · Census ACS 2023

Grimes, IA

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

15,810
Residents
$104,497
Median income
$281,000
Median home
$1,318
Median rent (state)

Grimes - the verdict

Nationally, Grimes sits in the 80th percentile for household income among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS.

80th
percentile, household income
62nd
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: Grimes, IA

Grimes is a small town in Iowa, home to 15,810 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Median household income here is $104,497 per year, placing it in the top quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 4.9%. Grimes's housing stock carries a median value of $281,000, and the median resident age is 34.3 years. Educational attainment runs 47.6% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 71.6% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 118 residential building permits were authorized in Grimes (Construction Slowdown), down 71% from five years earlier, per Census BPS data.

Living costs in Iowa run below the national norm: the state registers 87.8 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Well Below Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $1,318 per month statewide. Monthly utility costs average around $212 across Iowa, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. The average commute for Grimes workers runs 14.7 minutes, with 66.8% driving alone and 24.5% working from home. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 92.0 out of 100 (Very High).

Population

15,810 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Iowa

Median Household Income

$104,497 /yr

Poverty 4.9%

Cost of Living Index (state)

87.8 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Iowa average

How does Grimes compare to other US cities?

Here's how Grimes stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 80% higher than other cities
Home value 62% 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

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Grimes's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in Iowa, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

80thIncome percentile

80th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Grimes's home value compares nationally

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

$281,000 38th percentile more affordable than 38% 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%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Grimes $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 - Grimes, IA Grimes, IA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Grimes, 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 Grimes, IA median $104,497/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%
Grimes, 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 Grimes, IA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 47.6%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 4.9%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 71.6%

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

Population
15,810
Median Income
$104,497
Median Home Value
$281,000
Median Age
34.3
Poverty Rate
4.9%
Labor force participation
71.6%
Bachelor's Degree+
47.6%

Schools

Total Schools
5
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
15,000 residents16,000 residents17,000 residents18,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 15,719 residents 17,405 residents ▲ +10.7%
Grimes's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

📉 Construction Slowdown
Total Permits (2024)
118
housing units authorized
Single-Family
46
detached homes
Multifamily
72
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
7.5
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 409
2020 220
2021 209
2022 78
2023 271
2024 118

Permit volume decreased 71% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
14.7 minutes
Drive Alone
66.8%
Carpool
7.5%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
1.0%
Work from Home
24.5%

Based on 8,661 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 Grimes 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
92.0 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Iowa

Indianola
15,918 people
Newton
15,696 people
Norwalk
13,610 people
Clive
18,776 people
Boone
12,445 people
Oskaloosa
11,492 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Grimes's 15,810 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Middleburg Heights, OH
15,817 people
Brooklyn Park, MD
15,799 people
El Sobrante CDP (Contra Costa County), CA
15,823 people
Fruitville, FL
15,828 people
Thibodaux, LA
15,792 people
Clarksburg, WV
15,829 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Grimes's $104,497 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Hayden Lake, ID
$104,500 median income
Crooks, SD
$104,479 median income
Sloatsburg, NY
$104,444 median income
Waverly, PA
$104,444 median income
Lumberton, TX
$104,551 median income
Lakeside City, TX
$104,563 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Grimes, 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 Grimes, IA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 87.9% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 6.5% White 87.9% Black or African American 2.3% Asian 3.6% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 1.0% Two or more races 5.2% 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 Grimes 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
Grimes (this city) 15,810 $104,497
Indianola 15,918 $78,125
Newton 15,696 $56,321
Norwalk 13,610 $94,583
Census ACS 5-year FIPS IA NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Grimes, IA?

What is the population of Grimes, IA? +

Grimes, IA counts 15,810 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

The median household income in Grimes is $104,497 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Grimes? +

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

Grimes's median home value sits at $281,000, 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 Editorial

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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.