City profile · Iowa · Census ACS 2023

Harlan, IA

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

4,896
Residents
$54,923
Median income
$137,500
Median home
$919
Median rent (state)

Harlan - the verdict

Nationally, Harlan sits in the 27th percentile for household income among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS.

27th
percentile, household income
23rd
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: Harlan, IA

Harlan is a small town in Iowa, home to 4,896 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. The typical household in Harlan brings in $54,923 a year, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 12.0%. Typical homes in Harlan are valued around $137,500, and the median resident age is 48.2 years. About 21.6% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 54.3% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Housing supply pressure shows in Census Building Permit Survey data: 1 residential units were authorized in 2024 (Construction Slowdown), down 98% from five years earlier. The annual average temperature per NOAA climate normals runs 49.5°F with 34.3 inches of precipitation per year and 30.5 inches of snowfall.

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. Monthly utility costs average around $212 across Iowa, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 22.8 out of 100 (Very Low).

Population

4,896 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Iowa

Median Household Income

$54,923 /yr

Poverty 12.0%

Cost of Living Index (state)

87.8 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Iowa average

How does Harlan compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 27% higher than other cities
Home value 23% 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

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 Harlan'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.

27thIncome percentile

27th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Harlan's home value compares nationally

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

$137,500 Among the most affordable more affordable than 77% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Harlan $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 - Harlan, IA Harlan, IA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Harlan, 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 Harlan, IA median $54,923/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%
Harlan, 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 Harlan, IA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 21.6%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 12.0%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 54.3%

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

Population
4,896
Median Income
$54,923
Median Home Value
$137,500
Median Age
48.2
Poverty Rate
12.0%
Labor force participation
54.3%
Bachelor's Degree+
21.6%

Climate

Avg Temperature
49.5°F
Annual Precipitation
34.3"
Annual Snowfall
30.5"

Schools

Total Schools
4
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
4,840 residents4,860 residents4,880 residents4,900 residents4,920 residents 202020212022202320242025 4,891 residents 4,859 residents ▼ -0.7%
Harlan's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

📉 Construction Slowdown
Total Permits (2024)
1
housing units authorized
Single-Family
1
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
0.2
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 48
2020 3
2021 1
2022 0
2023 2
2024 1

Permit volume decreased 98% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
81.1%
Carpool
7.4%
Public Transit
0.5%
Walk
2.6%
Work from Home
7.8%
Other
0.6%

Based on 2,162 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 Harlan 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
22.8 / 100
Very Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Iowa

Shenandoah
4,913 people
Vinton
4,948 people
Humboldt
4,761 people
Iowa Falls
5,062 people
Le Claire
4,718 people
Sergeant Bluff
5,090 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Harlan's 4,896 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Goshen, CA
4,895 people
Twin Lakes CDP (Santa Cruz County), CA
4,895 people
University, MS
4,899 people
Golden Triangle, NJ
4,893 people
Westmont, PA
4,893 people
Sulphur, OK
4,900 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Harlan's $54,923 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Leonard, TX
$54,921 median income
Mineral Springs, AR
$54,931 median income
South Daytona, FL
$54,931 median income
Addison, AL
$54,911 median income
Ethridge, TN
$54,911 median income
Lyons, GA
$54,940 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Harlan, 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 Harlan, IA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 91.8% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 3.1% White 91.8% Black or African American 0.9% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.8% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 2.1% Two or more races 4.3% 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 Harlan 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
Harlan (this city) 4,896 $54,923
Shenandoah 4,913 $52,469
Vinton 4,948 $65,488
Humboldt 4,761 $70,661
Census ACS 5-year FIPS IA NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Harlan, IA?

What is the population of Harlan, IA? +

4,896 people live in Harlan, IA according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

Harlan households earn a median of $54,923 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Harlan? +

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

Homes in Harlan carry a median value of $137,500, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Harlan? +

Harlan has an average annual temperature of 49.5°F, 34.3 inches of precipitation, and 30.5 inches of snowfall per year. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NOAA Climate Normals, 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.