City profile · Iowa · Census ACS 2023

Marshalltown, IA

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

27,491
Residents
$68,854
Median income
$117,100
Median home
$959
Median rent (state)

Marshalltown - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Marshalltown places in the 48th percentile for household income and the 30th percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

48th
percentile, household income
16th
percentile, home value
11th
percentile, median rent
30th
percentile, safety
📝 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: Marshalltown, IA

27,491 people live in Marshalltown, Iowa - a small city by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. The typical household in Marshalltown brings in $68,854 a year, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 10.4%. Marshalltown's housing stock carries a median value of $117,100, and the median resident age is 35.7 years. Educational attainment runs 19.7% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 63.5% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 28 residential units authorized here in 2024 (Building Boom), up 87% from five years earlier. Crime here tracks close to the national norm: the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program logs 2070.7 total incidents per 100,000 residents here, near the national average (agency reporting is voluntary, so this measures reporting activity, not a definitive danger score). NOAA climate normals record an annual average temperature of 47.6°F with 37.9 inches of precipitation per year and 25.3 inches of snowfall.

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). A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $959 per month statewide. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Iowa run around $212, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 62.5 out of 100 (Moderate).

Population

27,491 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Iowa

Median Household Income

$68,854 /yr

Poverty 10.4%

Cost of Living Index (state)

87.8 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Iowa average

How does Marshalltown compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 48% higher than other cities
Home value 16% pricier than other cities
Median rent 11% pricier than other cities
Safety 30% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

A national percentile can hide a lot of local variation: narrowed to Iowa alone, Marshalltown ranks #119 of 141 Iowa cities by lowest crime rate - a different, more locally useful comparison than stacking it against the entire country.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

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

Iowa-relative analysis

Poverty Rate sits close to the middle of Iowa's city distribution

Among the 858 Iowa cities PlainCities tracks with reported poverty rate data, Marshalltown ranks #222 - the 74th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Marshalltown only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#352 of 845
58th percentile in Iowa
Median Gross Rent
#355 of 858
57th percentile in Iowa
Median Home Value
#426 of 849
50th percentile in Iowa
Poverty Rate
#222 of 858
74th percentile in Iowa
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#354 of 858
58th 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.

48thIncome percentile
30thSafety percentile

48th percentile nationally for median household income · 30th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Marshalltown's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Marshalltown's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 55 Avg. percentile National median
Marshalltown's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Marshalltown's home value compares nationally

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

$117,100 Among the most affordable more affordable than 84% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Marshalltown $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 - Marshalltown, IA Marshalltown, IA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Marshalltown, 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 Marshalltown, IA median $68,854/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%
Marshalltown, 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 Marshalltown, IA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 19.7%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 10.4%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 63.5%

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

Population
27,491
Median Income
$68,854
Median Home Value
$117,100
Median Age
35.7
Poverty Rate
10.4%
Labor force participation
63.5%
Bachelor's Degree+
19.7%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
2070.7
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
297.4
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
1773.3
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Climate

Avg Temperature
47.6°F
Annual Precipitation
37.9"
Annual Snowfall
25.3"

Schools

Total Schools
10
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
27,300 residents27,400 residents27,500 residents27,600 residents27,700 residents27,800 residents 202020212022202320242025 27,580 residents 27,536 residents ▼ -0.2%
Marshalltown's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

📈 Building Boom
Total Permits (2024)
28
housing units authorized
Single-Family
18
detached homes
Multifamily
10
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
1
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 15
2020 17
2021 17
2022 90
2023 80
2024 28

Permit volume increased 87% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
74.9%
Carpool
15.7%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
2.7%
Work from Home
6.0%
Other
0.7%

Based on 13,038 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 Marshalltown sits in

Cost of Living Index
87.8
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$959/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
62.5 / 100
Moderate
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Iowa

Mason City
27,135 people
Waukee
26,974 people
Ottumwa
25,352 people
Fort Dodge
24,788 people
Clinton
24,425 people
Johnston
24,196 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Marshalltown's 27,491 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Bristol, TN
27,490 people
Lemon Grove, CA
27,489 people
Mililani, HI
27,495 people
Belmont, CA
27,505 people
Athens, AL
27,474 people
Pearl, MS
27,458 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Marshalltown's $68,854 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Cactus Forest, AZ
$68,854 median income
Lake Alfred, FL
$68,854 median income
Rossburg, OH
$68,854 median income
Burlington, VT
$68,854 median income
Withamsville, OH
$68,857 median income
Pennock, MN
$68,846 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Marshalltown, 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 Marshalltown, IA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 66.1% 8.7% 15.7% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 33.1% White 66.1% Black or African American 2.7% Asian 5.2% American Indian 1.6% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 8.7% Two or more races 15.7% 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 Marshalltown 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
Marshalltown (this city) 27,491 $68,854
Mason City 27,135 $62,369
Waukee 26,974 $106,728
Ottumwa 25,352 $56,994
Census ACS 5-year FIPS IA FBI UCR NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Marshalltown, IA?

What is the population of Marshalltown, IA? +

Marshalltown, IA counts 27,491 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

In Marshalltown, the typical household earns $68,854 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Marshalltown? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Marshalltown; 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.

Is Marshalltown, IA safe? +

Marshalltown has a total crime rate of 2070.7 per 100,000 residents, which is near the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Marshalltown, IA? +

Homes in Marshalltown carry a median value of $117,100, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Marshalltown? +

The average annual temperature in Marshalltown runs 47.6°F, 37.9 inches of precipitation, and 25.3 inches of snowfall per year. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, 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

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.