City profile · Iowa · Census ACS 2023

Kalona, IA

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

2,679
Residents
$72,766
Median income
$221,300
Median home
$962
Median rent (state)

Kalona - the verdict

Kalona ranks in the 53rd percentile for household income nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS.

53rd
percentile, household income
49th
percentile, home value
12th
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: Kalona, IA

Kalona is a small town in Iowa, home to 2,679 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Kalona households earn a median of $72,766 annually, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 0.5%. Home values in Kalona run a median of $221,300, and the median resident age is 41.0 years. About 31.0% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 70.9% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 21 residential units authorized here in 2024 (Growing), up 17% from five years earlier.

Living costs in Iowa run below the national norm: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, Iowa scores 87.8 (Well Below Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $962 monthly. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Iowa's average monthly utility costs around $212 (state average). FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 44.2 out of 100 (Low).

Population

2,679 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Iowa

Median Household Income

$72,766 /yr

Poverty 0.5%

Cost of Living Index (state)

87.8 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Iowa average

How does Kalona compare to other US cities?

Kalona measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 53% higher than other cities
Home value 49% pricier than other cities
Median rent 12% 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 Kalona'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.

53rdIncome percentile

53rd percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Kalona's home value compares nationally

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

$221,300 Among the most affordable more affordable than 51% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Kalona $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 - Kalona, IA Kalona, IA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Kalona, 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 Kalona, IA median $72,766/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%
Kalona, 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 Kalona, IA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 31.0%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 0.5%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 70.9%

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

Population
2,679
Median Income
$72,766
Median Home Value
$221,300
Median Age
41.0
Poverty Rate
0.5%
Labor force participation
70.9%
Bachelor's Degree+
31.0%

Schools

Total Schools
2
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
2,600 residents2,700 residents2,800 residents2,900 residents 202020212022202320242025 2,642 residents 2,811 residents ▲ +6.4%
Kalona's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

🏗️ Growing
Total Permits (2024)
21
housing units authorized
Single-Family
7
detached homes
Multifamily
14
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
7.8
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 18
2020 23
2021 24
2022 20
2023 10
2024 21

Permit volume increased 17% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
72.0%
Carpool
7.2%
Public Transit
1.4%
Walk
5.6%
Work from Home
12.8%
Other
1.0%

Based on 1,474 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 Kalona sits in

Cost of Living Index
87.8
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$962/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
44.2 / 100
Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Iowa

Belmond
2,678 people
Hawarden
2,674 people
Missouri Valley
2,685 people
Rock Rapids
2,653 people
Bloomfield
2,723 people
Eldora
2,622 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Kalona's 2,679 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Mount Morris, IL
2,679 people
Wrightsville Beach, NC
2,679 people
Owens Cross Roads, AL
2,678 people
Central Heights-Midland, AZ
2,678 people
White Mountain Lake, AZ
2,678 people
Albion, IN
2,680 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Kalona's $72,766 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Dodgeville, WI
$72,768 median income
Mexico, NY
$72,772 median income
Ennis, TX
$72,772 median income
Linville, NC
$72,759 median income
Bauxite, AR
$72,778 median income
Cerulean, KY
$72,778 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Kalona, 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 Kalona, IA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 94.2% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 4.7% White 94.2% Black or African American 0.0% Asian 0.3% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 1.6% Two or more races 3.9% 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 Kalona 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
Kalona (this city) 2,679 $72,766
Belmond 2,678 $58,750
Hawarden 2,674 $69,375
Missouri Valley 2,685 $64,844
Census ACS 5-year FIPS IA NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Kalona, IA?

What is the population of Kalona, IA? +

The population of Kalona, IA stands at 2,679 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

Median annual household income in Kalona runs $72,766, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Kalona? +

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

The median home value in Kalona is $221,300, 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.