City profile · Iowa · Census ACS 2023

Lost Nation, IA

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

393
Residents
$51,000
Median income
$74,500
Median home
$956
Median rent (state)

Lost Nation - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Lost Nation lands in the 21st percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

21st
percentile, household income
3rd
percentile, home value
11th
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: Lost Nation, IA

393 people live in Lost Nation, Iowa - a small town by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Median household income here is $51,000 per year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 6.8%. Typical homes in Lost Nation are valued around $74,500, and the median resident age is 44.3 years. About 18.1% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 56.2% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 2 residential building permits were authorized in Lost Nation (Low Activity), per Census BPS data.

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). HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $956 per month. Monthly utility costs average around $212 across Iowa, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. Natural-hazard exposure scores 64.8 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Moderate).

Population

393 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Iowa

Median Household Income

$51,000 /yr

Poverty 6.8%

Cost of Living Index (state)

87.8 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Iowa average

How does Lost Nation compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 21% higher than other cities
Home value 3% pricier than other cities
Median rent 11% 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 Lost Nation'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.

21stIncome percentile

21st percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Lost Nation's home value compares nationally

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

$74,500 Among the most affordable more affordable than 97% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Above this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $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. Lost Nation $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 - Lost Nation, IA Lost Nation, IA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Lost Nation, 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 Lost Nation, IA median $51,000/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%
Lost Nation, 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 Lost Nation, IA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 18.1%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 6.8%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 56.2%

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

Population
393
Median Income
$51,000
Median Home Value
$74,500
Median Age
44.3
Poverty Rate
6.8%
Labor force participation
56.2%
Bachelor's Degree+
18.1%

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
420 residents425 residents430 residents435 residents 202020212022202320242025 431 residents 425 residents ▼ -1.4%
Lost Nation's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

🏗️ Low Activity
Total Permits (2024)
2
housing units authorized
Single-Family
2
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
5.1
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 0
2020 0
2021 0
2022 0
2023 2
2024 2

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
93.0%
Carpool
1.2%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
0.0%
Work from Home
5.8%

Based on 171 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 Lost Nation sits in

Cost of Living Index
87.8
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$956/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
64.8 / 100
Moderate
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Iowa

Andrew
393 people
Nichols
393 people
Miles
392 people
Union
391 people
Farragut
397 people
Lawler
397 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Lost Nation's 393 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Spaulding, CA
393 people
Braswell, GA
393 people
Newington, GA
393 people
Arlington, KS
393 people
Leland, MI
393 people
Waubun, MN
393 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Lost Nation's $51,000 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Briarcliff, AR
$51,000 median income
Clyde, KS
$51,000 median income
Allensville, KY
$51,000 median income
Biglerville, PA
$51,000 median income
Dresden, TN
$50,998 median income
Dunseith, ND
$51,004 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Lost Nation, 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 Lost Nation, IA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 95.7% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 0.0% White 95.7% Black or African American 0.5% Asian 0.5% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.8% Two or more races 2.5% 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 Lost Nation 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
Lost Nation (this city) 393 $51,000
Andrew 393 $64,292
Nichols 393 $87,500
Miles 392 $67,750
Census ACS 5-year FIPS IA Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Lost Nation, IA?

What is the population of Lost Nation, IA? +

Lost Nation, IA has a population of 393 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Lost Nation, IA? +

The median household income in Lost Nation is $51,000 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Lost Nation? +

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

Homes in Lost Nation carry a median value of $74,500, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

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

Verify with HUD →

Verify with FBI →

Verify with NOAA →

Verify with U.S. Census Bureau →

Verify with EPA →

Verify with FEMA →

Verify with BEA →

Verify with EIA →

Verify with NCES →

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.