City · Iowa
Grinnell, Iowa
Grinnell, city, in Poweshiek County, Iowa. Grinnell had 9,430 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 1.3% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 9,564 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 9,505 (±52). GEOID 1933105.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
9,430
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 9,564 · ACS 2020-2024: 9,505 ±52
Median household income
$65,320
±$11,429 (90% margin)
Iowa: $75,059
Median home value
$209,500
±$15,786 (90% margin)
Iowa: $208,000
Median gross rent
$895
±$53 (90% margin)
Iowa: $972
Where is Grinnell and what county is it in?
Grinnell is a city in Poweshiek County, Iowa. It covers 5.7 square miles of land, 1,681 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 Grinnell, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 9,430 people lived in Grinnell on July 1, 2025, down 1.3% since 2020, while Iowa grew 1.5%. The 2020 Census counted 9,564 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 9,505 (±52).
| Measure | Grinnell | Poweshiek County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 9,505 ±52 | 18,545 | +474 |
| Households | 3,635 ±227 | 7,804 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.19 ±0.13 | 2.16 | +0.19 |
| Housing units | 3,976 ±223 | 8,975 | no clear change |
Grinnell's population since 2000
From 9,105 in 2000 to 9,430 in 2025: up 3.6%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Grinnell 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 Grinnell?
The median resident of Grinnell is 36.5 years old; 18.6% are under 18 and 21.4% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 86.1%, then non-Hispanic residents of two or more races at 5.1%. 5.7% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Grinnell | Poweshiek County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.5 ±2.1 | 41.0 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 18.6% ±1.9 pts | 19.4% | – |
| 65 years and over | 21.4% ±2.1 pts | 21.4% | – |
| Male | 46.9% ±1.9 pts | 48.7% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 3.1% ±0.9 pts | 3.5% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 86.1% ±2.6 pts | 89.8% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 1.6% ±0.7 pts | 0.9% | −2.1 pts |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 3.9% ±0.4 pts | 2.0% | no clear change |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.3 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.3 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 5.1% ±2.4 pts | 3.3% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.1% ±0.2 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 5.7% ±1.4 pts | 3.6% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 8.0% ±1.4 pts | 5.3% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 7.4% ±2.4 pts | 6.9% | – |
| With a disability | 14.4% ±3.1 pts | 14.3% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 3.5% ±1.6 pts | 3.9% | −4.2 pts |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 94.7% ±2.3 pts | 94.9% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 37.5% ±4.8 pts | 27.3% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 18.2% ±3.9 pts | 11.2% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 76.8% ±4.3 pts | 83.6% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 7.6% ±1.8 pts | 4.3% | – |
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 Grinnell earn?
Half of Grinnell's 3,635 households earn less than $65,320 a year (±$11,429), against $67,391 in Poweshiek County and $75,059 in Iowa. In 2015-2019 it was $57,535 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 11.1% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Grinnell | Poweshiek County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $65,320 ±$11,429 | $67,391 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $92,817 ±$15,270 | $90,285 | – |
| Per capita income | $36,165 ±$5,276 | $38,109 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 11.1% ±3.1 pts | 10.7% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 6.5% ±4.8 pts | 9.5% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 11.2% ±3.8 pts | 9.4% | – |
| Households with a computer | 96.1% ±2.9 pts | 95.3% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 87.4% ±4.7 pts | 86.6% | – |
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 Grinnell?
Owners occupy 64.6% of Grinnell's occupied homes and renters 35.4%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $209,500 by its owner (±$15,786). The median renter pays $895 a month including utilities, and 33.2% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Grinnell | Poweshiek County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $209,500 ±$15,786 | $209,300 | +$40,280 |
| Median gross rent | $895 ±$53 | $883 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 33.2% ±10.8 pts | 30.6% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,598 ±$137 | $1,580 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 64.6% ±6.4 pts | 71.2% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 35.4% ±6.4 pts | 28.8% | – |
| Housing units | 3,976 ±223 | 8,975 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.9% ±1.4 pts | 1.3% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 3.2% ±3.5 pts | 2.2% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 63.1% ±5.2 pts | 77.3% | – |
| Mobile homes | 2.2% ±2.1 pts | 3.8% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.0% ±0.6 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 6.4% ±2.6 pts | 6.6% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 28.8% ±6.2 pts | 29.4% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 11.8% ±5.5 pts | 7.2% | – |
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 Grinnell building?
Builders took permits for 18 new housing units in Grinnell in 2025 (2 in single-family houses), 1.9 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 Grinnell work and get to work?
54.3% of Grinnell's workers drive alone and 17.6% work from home. The average trip to work takes 12.3 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 4.0%.
| Measure | Grinnell | Poweshiek County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 60.6% ±2.7 pts | 62.1% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 4.0% ±1.9 pts | 3.6% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 54.3% ±5.0 pts | 67.9% | – |
| Carpooled | 4.5% ±2.2 pts | 4.7% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±0.5 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Walked | 19.9% ±4.6 pts | 11.3% | – |
| Worked from home | 17.6% ±4.1 pts | 14.0% | +14.7 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 12.3 min ±1.7 | 18.6 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 Grinnell?
2 census tracts lie mostly in Grinnell, and 1 more reaches into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $47,878 (Tract 3704) to $82,589 (Tract 3703).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 3703Poweshiek County | 5,056 | $82,589 |
| Tract 3704Poweshiek County | 4,307 | $47,878 |
| Tract 3702Poweshiek County | 2,710 | $66,497 |
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 Grinnell) · Census block assignment files
How does Grinnell compare with other places in Iowa?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Grinnell is the 3,335th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 45th-most populous of 939 in Iowa.
Grinnell ranks 175th 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 | 45th | 939 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 158th | 275 |
| Residents per square mile | 33rd | 279 |
| Median household income | 175th | 279 |
| Per capita income | 160th | 279 |
| Median home value | 82nd | 279 |
| Median gross rent | 102nd | 266 |
| Poverty rate | 106th | 232 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 51st | 279 |
| Median age | 211th | 279 |
| Owner-occupied share | 234th | 279 |
| Work from home | 23rd | 221 |
| Travel time to work | 270th | 279 |
Grinnell's figures with every place in Iowa (CSV)
Every place in Iowa, sortable · Compare Grinnell 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 Grinnell?
9 of the 57 figures for Grinnell 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 Grinnell 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 Grinnell.