City · Iowa

Hills, Iowa

Hills, city, in Johnson County, Iowa. Hills had 913 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 6.2% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 863 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 974 (±218). GEOID 1936345.

Residents, July 2025 estimate

913

Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 863 · ACS 2020-2024: 974 ±218

Median household income

$83,333

±$10,406 (90% margin)
Iowa: $75,059

Median home value

$240,200

±$22,332 (90% margin)
Iowa: $208,000

Median gross rent

$1,132

±$127 (90% margin)
Iowa: $972

Where is Hills and what county is it in?

Hills is a city in Johnson County, Iowa. It covers 0.8 square miles of land, 1,050 residents per square mile in 2020.

Hills is in the Iowa City, IA metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 2 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).

Hills (marked with a dot) in Johnson County, Iowa. Boundaries: Census Bureau 2024.

Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files

How many people live in Hills, and is it growing?

The Census Bureau estimates that 913 people lived in Hills on July 1, 2025, up 6.2% since 2020, faster than Iowa (+1.5%). The 2020 Census counted 863 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 974 (±218).

  • July 2020→2021 +31 (897)
  • 2021→2022 +18 (915)
  • 2022→2023 −1 (914)
  • 2023→2024 −5 (909)
  • 2024→2025 +4 (913)
ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (counts) with the change from 2015-2019
Measure HillsJohnson CountyIowa Change since 2015-2019
Total population 974 ±218 156,639 3,210,507 no clear change
Households 438 ±95 63,341 1,315,707 no clear change
Average household size 2.18 ±0.22 2.34 2.36 no clear change
Housing units 469 ±98 68,217 1,437,699 no clear change

Hills's population since 2000

From 679 in 2000 to 913 in 2025: up 34.5%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Hills 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.

  • 2000 Census 679
  • 2005 (estimate) 683
  • 2010 Census 703
  • 2015 (estimate) 802
  • 2020 Census 863
  • 2025 (estimate) 913

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 Hills?

The median resident of Hills is 40.2 years old; 15.2% are under 18 and 20.5% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 87.3%, then non-Hispanic residents of two or more races at 8.1%.

Age, origin, education and moves, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Race groups are non-Hispanic; Hispanic includes any race.
Measure HillsJohnson CountyIowa Change since 2015-2019
Median age 40.2 ±8.1 31.0 38.6 no clear change
Under 18 years 15.2% ±5.9 pts 19.3% 22.9% –
65 years and over 20.5% ±9.1 pts 13.3% 18.1% –
Male 51.0% ±5.5 pts 49.7% 50.2% –
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 2.2% ±2.6 pts 6.7% 7.3% –
White alone, not Hispanic 87.3% ±7.4 pts 74.8% 82.3% no clear change
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic 2.5% ±3.0 pts 7.6% 3.8% –
Asian alone, not Hispanic 0.0% ±2.5 pts 5.6% 2.5% –
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic 0.0% ±2.5 pts 0.1% 0.2% –
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic 0.0% ±2.5 pts 0.0% 0.2% –
Two or more races, not Hispanic 8.1% ±6.1 pts 4.6% 3.5% –
Some other race alone, not Hispanic 0.0% ±2.5 pts 0.5% 0.3% –
Born outside the United States 0.2% ±0.4 pts 9.8% 5.9% –
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) 3.2% ±3.3 pts 14.7% 9.1% –
Civilian veterans (age 18+) 2.4% ±1.8 pts 3.9% 6.5% –
With a disability 13.5% ±5.9 pts 9.9% 12.6% –
No health insurance coverage 10.0% ±7.4 pts 4.7% 5.0% –
High school graduate or higher (age 25+) 97.7% ±3.4 pts 96.3% 93.3% –
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) 24.2% ±6.8 pts 55.2% 31.4% no clear change
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) 5.2% ±2.9 pts 24.1% 10.5% –
Lived in the same house a year earlier 87.4% ±6.2 pts 77.5% 87.1% –
Moved from another state in the past year 1.0% ±1.8 pts 4.3% 2.2% –

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 Hills earn?

Half of Hills's 438 households earn less than $83,333 a year (±$10,406), against $74,935 in Johnson County and $75,059 in Iowa. In 2015-2019 it was $67,592 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart.

Income and poverty in 2024 dollars, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates; 2015-2019 dollars adjusted with the R-CPI-U-RS
Measure HillsJohnson CountyIowa Change since 2015-2019
Median household income $83,333 ±$10,406 $74,935 $75,059 no clear change
Mean household income $89,732 ±$11,728 $108,874 $98,187 –
Per capita income $41,488 ±$5,203 $45,136 $40,877 no clear change
People below the poverty line 8.4% ±6.3 pts 17.1% 11.1% –
Children under 18 below the poverty line 12.2% ±16.2 pts 11.1% 12.9% –
Households receiving SNAP 4.6% ±5.4 pts 6.0% 8.8% –
Households with a computer 98.6% ±1.6 pts 97.0% 94.7% –
Households with a broadband subscription 95.9% ±3.1 pts 89.2% 88.9% –

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 Hills?

Owners occupy 64.2% of Hills's occupied homes and renters 35.8%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $240,200 by its owner (±$22,332). The median renter pays $1,132 a month including utilities, and 30.0% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Home values are owners' own estimates.
Measure HillsJohnson CountyIowa Change since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied) $240,200 ±$22,332 $308,600 $208,000 +$45,012
Median gross rent $1,132 ±$127 $1,122 $972 no clear change
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent 30.0% ±16.7 pts 46.3% 35.2% no clear change
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage $1,474 ±$113 $1,948 $1,533 –
Owner-occupied homes 64.2% ±11.8 pts 59.4% 71.7% no clear change
Renter-occupied homes 35.8% ±11.8 pts 40.6% 28.3% –
Housing units 469 ±98 68,217 1,437,699 no clear change
Homeowner vacancy rate 0.0% ±8.5 pts 0.7% 0.8% –
Rental vacancy rate 13.3% ±15.5 pts 6.5% 5.7% –
Single-family detached homes 61.4% ±11.0 pts 48.0% 72.2% –
Mobile homes 0.0% ±5.2 pts 3.8% 3.2% –
Built 2020 or later 0.0% ±5.2 pts 2.7% 1.7% –
Built 2010 to 2019 16.2% ±6.9 pts 18.7% 9.2% –
Built 1939 or earlier 16.4% ±8.0 pts 9.4% 23.5% –
Households with no vehicle 0.9% ±1.4 pts 7.1% 5.4% –

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 Hills building?

Builders took permits for 4 new housing units in Hills in 2025 (4 in single-family houses), 4.4 per 1,000 residents against 4.2 across Iowa.

  • 2019 17 units
  • 2020 17 units
  • 2021 14 units
  • 2022 5 units
  • 2023 (10 months) 3 units
  • 2024 3 units
  • 2025 4 units

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 Hills work and get to work?

75.8% of Hills's workers drive alone and 11.9% work from home. The average trip to work takes 17.7 minutes.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (workers 16 and over)
Measure HillsJohnson CountyIowa Change since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+) 78.5% ±7.7 pts 69.4% 66.4% –
Unemployment rate 3.6% ±3.8 pts 3.8% 3.6% –
Drove alone to work 75.8% ±9.6 pts 65.2% 76.0% –
Carpooled 7.8% ±6.0 pts 6.3% 7.8% –
Public transportation 0.0% ±3.9 pts 3.7% 0.7% –
Walked 3.8% ±3.7 pts 8.2% 2.9% –
Worked from home 11.9% ±7.8 pts 13.7% 11.3% –
Mean travel time to work 17.7 min ±2.2 19.4 min 19.8 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 Hills?

No census tract lies mostly in Hills; 1 tract reaches into it (2020 census blocks).

Census tracts in Hills, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
TractResidents, 2020-2024Median household incomeMedian home valueShare of tract in Hills
Tract 104.01Johnson County3,538 $58,318 $84,80013%

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 Hills) · Census block assignment files

How does Hills compare with other places in Iowa?

By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Hills is the 10,673rd-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 300th-most populous of 939 in Iowa.

Hills is not ranked by income or the other survey measures: those rankings include places of 1,000 or more residents (2020 Census) with a reliable estimate.

Hills's rank in Iowa (1 = highest): by population among the state's incorporated places with a 2025 estimate; by the other measures among places of 1,000+ residents with a reliable estimate
MeasureRankOf
Population, July 2025 estimate300th939

Hills's figures with every place in Iowa (CSV)

Every place in Iowa, sortable · Compare Hills 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 Hills?

24 of the 57 figures for Hills 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 Hills 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 Hills.