City profile · Iowa · Census ACS 2023

Malvern, IA

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

1,415
Residents
$82,027
Median income
$173,900
Median home
$1,368
Median rent (state)

Malvern - the verdict

Nationally, Malvern sits in the 64th percentile for household income among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS.

64th
percentile, household income
35th
percentile, home value
53rd
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: Malvern, IA

1,415 people live in Malvern, Iowa - a small town by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Malvern households earn a median of $82,027 annually, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 1.3%. Home values in Malvern run a median of $173,900, and the median resident age is 42.6 years. 28.8% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 58.7% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 7 residential building permits were authorized in Malvern (Building Boom), up 75% from five years earlier, per Census BPS data.

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 $1,368 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 18.5 out of 100 (Very Low).

Population

1,415 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Iowa

Median Household Income

$82,027 /yr

Poverty 1.3%

Cost of Living Index (state)

87.8 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Iowa average

How does Malvern compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 64% higher than other cities
Home value 35% pricier than other cities
Median rent 53% 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

Each percentile compares Malvern against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Iowa only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Iowa-relative analysis

Median Gross Rent is Malvern's strongest outlier among Iowa cities

Among the 858 Iowa cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Malvern ranks #1 - the 96th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Malvern only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#162 of 845
81st percentile in Iowa
Median Gross Rent
#1 of 858
96th percentile in Iowa
Median Home Value
#178 of 849
79th percentile in Iowa
Poverty Rate
#731 of 858
14th percentile in Iowa
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#133 of 858
84th percentile in Iowa

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Iowa only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

64thIncome percentile

64th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Malvern's home value compares nationally

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

$173,900 Among the most affordable more affordable than 65% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Malvern $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 - Malvern, IA Malvern, IA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Malvern, 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 Malvern, IA median $82,027/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%
Malvern, 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 Malvern, IA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 28.8%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 1.3%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 58.7%

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

Population
1,415
Median Income
$82,027
Median Home Value
$173,900
Median Age
42.6
Poverty Rate
1.3%
Labor force participation
58.7%
Bachelor's Degree+
28.8%

Schools

Total Schools
1
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
1,020 residents1,040 residents1,060 residents1,080 residents 202020212022202320242025 1,031 residents 1,073 residents ▲ +4.1%
Malvern's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

📈 Building Boom
Total Permits (2024)
7
housing units authorized
Single-Family
7
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
4.9
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2022 4
2023 4
2024 7

Permit volume increased 75% from 2022 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
78.8%
Carpool
11.4%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
7.8%
Work from Home
2.0%

Based on 694 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 Malvern sits in

Cost of Living Index
87.8
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,368/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
18.5 / 100
Very Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Iowa

Strawberry Point
1,415 people
Woodbine
1,418 people
Earlham
1,406 people
Coon Rapids
1,403 people
Kingsley
1,427 people
Nora Springs
1,394 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Malvern's 1,415 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Leilani Estates, HI
1,415 people
Holly Hill, SC
1,415 people
Iraan, TX
1,415 people
Hansen, ID
1,414 people
Otterbein, IN
1,414 people
Rossmoyne, OH
1,414 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Malvern's $82,027 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Mattawan, MI
$82,026 median income
Fairplay, CO
$82,031 median income
Mendon, MI
$82,031 median income
Mapleton, MN
$82,031 median income
Cedar Bluffs, NE
$82,031 median income
Benson, UT
$82,019 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Malvern, 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 Malvern, IA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 97.0% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 1.8% White 97.0% Black or African American 0.1% Asian 0.4% American Indian 0.7% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.0% Two or more races 1.8% 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 Malvern 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
Malvern (this city) 1,415 $82,027
Strawberry Point 1,415 $58,352
Woodbine 1,418 $54,167
Earlham 1,406 $104,464
Census ACS 5-year FIPS IA NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Malvern, IA?

What is the population of Malvern, IA? +

1,415 people live in Malvern, IA according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

Malvern households earn a median of $82,027 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Malvern? +

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

The median home value in Malvern is $173,900, 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

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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.