City · Iowa
Hudson, Iowa
Hudson, city, in Black Hawk County, Iowa. Hudson had 3,028 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 19.0% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 2,546 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 2,699 (±18). GEOID 1937470.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
3,028
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 2,546 · ACS 2020-2024: 2,699 ±18
Median household income
$120,481
±$15,503 (90% margin)
Iowa: $75,059
Median home value
$242,700
±$22,401 (90% margin)
Iowa: $208,000
Median gross rent
$947
±$246 (90% margin)
Iowa: $972
Where is Hudson and what county is it in?
Hudson is a city in Black Hawk County, Iowa. It covers 8.4 square miles of land, 301 residents per square mile in 2020.
Hudson is in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 3 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Hudson, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 3,028 people lived in Hudson on July 1, 2025, up 19.0% since 2020, faster than Iowa (+1.5%). The 2020 Census counted 2,546 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 2,699 (±18).
| Measure | Hudson | Black Hawk County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 2,699 ±18 | 131,049 | +324 |
| Households | 992 ±82 | 54,563 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.72 ±0.23 | 2.31 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 1,027 ±85 | 58,991 | no clear change |
Hudson's population since 2000
From 2,117 in 2000 to 3,028 in 2025: up 43.0%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Hudson 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 Hudson?
The median resident of Hudson is 41.0 years old; 27.3% are under 18 and 17.3% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 92.1%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 2.7%. 3.3% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Hudson | Black Hawk County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.0 ±3.3 | 35.7 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 27.3% ±4.8 pts | 21.9% | – |
| 65 years and over | 17.3% ±3.9 pts | 17.7% | – |
| Male | 54.1% ±3.7 pts | 49.2% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 2.7% ±2.4 pts | 5.2% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 92.1% ±3.7 pts | 78.1% | −4.5 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 1.6% ±2.3 pts | 9.1% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 1.4% ±1.5 pts | 2.7% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.9 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.9 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 2.1% ±1.4 pts | 3.9% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.9 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 3.3% ±1.9 pts | 6.5% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 4.5% ±3.6 pts | 8.8% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 7.5% ±3.6 pts | 5.7% | – |
| With a disability | 16.0% ±5.2 pts | 13.3% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 2.4% ±2.1 pts | 5.1% | – |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 97.2% ±2.9 pts | 92.9% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 41.2% ±7.8 pts | 30.3% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 15.2% ±4.0 pts | 11.0% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 89.3% ±4.9 pts | 83.8% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 0.8% ±0.8 pts | 1.8% | – |
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 Hudson earn?
Half of Hudson's 992 households earn less than $120,481 a year (±$15,503), against $66,417 in Black Hawk County and $75,059 in Iowa. In 2015-2019 it was $108,728 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 4.0% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Hudson | Black Hawk County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $120,481 ±$15,503 | $66,417 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $123,566 ±$9,891 | $89,163 | – |
| Per capita income | $46,627 ±$5,568 | $37,541 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 4.0% ±2.2 pts | 14.9% | – |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 3.8% ±4.2 pts | 17.2% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 2.6% ±2.0 pts | 11.1% | – |
| Households with a computer | 98.0% ±1.7 pts | 95.2% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 95.2% ±2.9 pts | 89.4% | – |
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 Hudson?
Owners occupy 90.1% of Hudson's occupied homes and renters 9.9%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $242,700 by its owner (±$22,401). The median renter pays $947 a month including utilities, and 50.0% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Hudson | Black Hawk County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $242,700 ±$22,401 | $188,900 | no clear change |
| Median gross rent | $947 ±$246 | $989 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 50.0% ±24.5 pts | 41.0% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,662 ±$182 | $1,429 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 90.1% ±4.3 pts | 66.2% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 9.9% ±4.3 pts | 33.8% | – |
| Housing units | 1,027 ±85 | 58,991 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0% ±2.8 pts | 1.3% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 0.0% ±19.4 pts | 6.5% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 88.6% ±4.5 pts | 69.8% | – |
| Mobile homes | 0.0% ±2.4 pts | 3.0% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 4.8% ±3.9 pts | 1.0% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 13.6% ±5.3 pts | 7.6% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 12.3% ±4.9 pts | 18.2% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 1.6% ±1.2 pts | 6.3% | – |
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 Hudson building?
Builders took permits for 11 new housing units in Hudson in 2025 (7 in single-family houses), 3.6 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 Hudson work and get to work?
80.0% of Hudson's workers drive alone and 9.9% work from home. The average trip to work takes 17.1 minutes.
| Measure | Hudson | Black Hawk County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 70.4% ±4.8 pts | 66.7% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 4.5% ±4.1 pts | 4.6% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 80.0% ±5.6 pts | 78.4% | – |
| Carpooled | 6.7% ±3.2 pts | 8.5% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±1.9 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Walked | 1.7% ±1.8 pts | 3.0% | – |
| Worked from home | 9.9% ±4.9 pts | 8.9% | no clear change |
| Mean travel time to work | 17.1 min ±1.7 | 15.9 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 Hudson?
No census tract lies mostly in Hudson; 2 tracts reach into it (2020 census blocks).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 30.02Black Hawk County | 4,201 | $115,227 |
| Tract 30.01Black Hawk County | 5,588 | $67,193 |
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 Hudson) · Census block assignment files
How does Hudson compare with other places in Iowa?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Hudson is the 6,310th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 121st-most populous of 939 in Iowa.
Hudson ranks 14th 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 | 121st | 939 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 7th | 275 |
| Residents per square mile | 276th | 279 |
| Median household income | 14th | 279 |
| Per capita income | 41st | 279 |
| Median home value | 56th | 279 |
| Median gross rent | 73rd | 266 |
| Poverty rate | 223rd | 232 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 42nd | 279 |
| Median age | 109th | 279 |
| Owner-occupied share | 17th | 279 |
| Work from home | 101st | 221 |
| Travel time to work | 206th | 279 |
Hudson's figures with every place in Iowa (CSV)
Every place in Iowa, sortable · Compare Hudson 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 Hudson?
20 of the 57 figures for Hudson 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 Hudson 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 Hudson.