City · Iowa
Manson, Iowa
Manson, city, in Calhoun County, Iowa. Manson had 1,617 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 5.3% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 1,709 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 1,645 (±197). GEOID 1948990.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
1,617
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 1,709 · ACS 2020-2024: 1,645 ±197
Median household income
$66,250
±$10,572 (90% margin)
Iowa: $75,059
Median home value
$116,900
±$8,941 (90% margin)
Iowa: $208,000
Median gross rent
$714
±$19 (90% margin)
Iowa: $972
Where is Manson and what county is it in?
Manson is a city in Calhoun County, Iowa. It covers 3.2 square miles of land, 527 residents per square mile in 2020.
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Manson, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 1,617 people lived in Manson on July 1, 2025, down 5.3% since 2020, while Iowa grew 1.5%. The 2020 Census counted 1,709 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 1,645 (±197).
| Measure | Manson | Calhoun County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 1,645 ±197 | 9,803 | no clear change |
| Households | 782 ±100 | 3,993 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.07 ±0.16 | 2.28 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 905 ±101 | 4,798 | no clear change |
Manson's population since 2000
From 1,893 in 2000 to 1,617 in 2025: down 14.6%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Manson 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 Manson?
The median resident of Manson is 41.3 years old; 21.5% are under 18 and 23.7% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 96.7%, then non-Hispanic residents of two or more races at 1.8%.
| Measure | Manson | Calhoun County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.3 ±4.6 | 42.8 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 21.5% ±3.8 pts | 21.7% | – |
| 65 years and over | 23.7% ±4.3 pts | 23.7% | – |
| Male | 47.1% ±3.3 pts | 52.3% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 1.2% ±1.2 pts | 2.7% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 96.7% ±1.8 pts | 91.3% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±1.5 pts | 1.6% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.4% ±0.5 pts | 0.2% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±1.5 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±1.5 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 1.8% ±1.2 pts | 3.6% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±1.5 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 0.5% ±0.5 pts | 1.0% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 2.8% ±1.9 pts | 2.8% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 7.1% ±2.8 pts | 6.3% | – |
| With a disability | 20.8% ±4.5 pts | 16.5% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 6.1% ±2.7 pts | 4.4% | – |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 95.9% ±2.4 pts | 92.9% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 27.7% ±5.6 pts | 21.8% | +7.6 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 7.2% ±3.6 pts | 6.4% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 87.3% ±4.0 pts | 86.7% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.7% ±1.4 pts | 1.4% | – |
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 Manson earn?
Half of Manson's 782 households earn less than $66,250 a year (±$10,572), against $64,964 in Calhoun County and $75,059 in Iowa. In 2015-2019 it was $56,849 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 8.9% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Manson | Calhoun County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $66,250 ±$10,572 | $64,964 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $75,496 ±$6,935 | $88,729 | – |
| Per capita income | $36,456 ±$3,447 | $37,315 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 8.9% ±3.1 pts | 9.3% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 7.4% ±5.6 pts | 7.5% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 11.8% ±3.8 pts | 9.5% | – |
| Households with a computer | 95.1% ±2.3 pts | 93.1% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 91.2% ±3.5 pts | 87.2% | – |
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 Manson?
Owners occupy 74.0% of Manson's occupied homes and renters 26.0%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $116,900 by its owner (±$8,941). The median renter pays $714 a month including utilities, and 37.2% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Manson | Calhoun County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $116,900 ±$8,941 | $118,800 | no clear change |
| Median gross rent | $714 ±$19 | $723 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 37.2% ±15.2 pts | 25.8% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,084 ±$98 | $1,093 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 74.0% ±6.4 pts | 80.5% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 26.0% ±6.4 pts | 19.5% | – |
| Housing units | 905 ±101 | 4,798 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 5.7% ±6.0 pts | 2.3% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 8.6% ±10.1 pts | 8.8% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 78.5% ±5.9 pts | 85.6% | – |
| Mobile homes | 1.4% ±2.2 pts | 1.5% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.0% ±2.7 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 1.5% ±1.0 pts | 3.1% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 24.2% ±5.4 pts | 33.5% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 4.9% ±3.2 pts | 3.4% | – |
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 Manson building?
Builders took permits for 0 new housing units in Manson in 2025 (0 in single-family houses), 0.0 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 Manson work and get to work?
84.8% of Manson's workers drive alone and 7.5% work from home. The average trip to work takes 22.3 minutes.
| Measure | Manson | Calhoun County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 63.7% ±4.4 pts | 56.2% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 5.2% ±3.5 pts | 2.6% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 84.8% ±4.8 pts | 78.8% | – |
| Carpooled | 3.3% ±2.5 pts | 8.3% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±3.1 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Walked | 3.0% ±2.9 pts | 3.4% | – |
| Worked from home | 7.5% ±3.2 pts | 7.6% | no clear change |
| Mean travel time to work | 22.3 min ±3.7 | 22.3 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 Manson?
No census tract lies mostly in Manson; 1 tract reaches into it (2020 census blocks).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 9501Calhoun County | 2,451 | $72,179 |
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 Manson) · Census block assignment files
How does Manson compare with other places in Iowa?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Manson is the 8,487th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 197th-most populous of 939 in Iowa.
Manson ranks 165th 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 | 197th | 939 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 270th | 275 |
| Residents per square mile | 261st | 279 |
| Median household income | 165th | 279 |
| Per capita income | 155th | 279 |
| Median home value | 238th | 279 |
| Median gross rent | 225th | 266 |
| Poverty rate | 142nd | 232 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 103rd | 279 |
| Median age | 101st | 279 |
| Owner-occupied share | 138th | 279 |
| Work from home | 142nd | 221 |
| Travel time to work | 94th | 279 |
Manson's figures with every place in Iowa (CSV)
Every place in Iowa, sortable · Compare Manson 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 Manson?
20 of the 57 figures for Manson 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 Manson 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 Manson.