City profile · Iowa · Census ACS 2023

Mediapolis, IA

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

1,930
Residents
$71,250
Median income
$167,300
Median home
$1,063
Median rent (state)

Mediapolis - the verdict

Nationally, Mediapolis sits in the 51st percentile for household income among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS.

51st
percentile, household income
33rd
percentile, home value
25th
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: Mediapolis, IA

1,930 people live in Mediapolis, Iowa - a small town by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. The typical household in Mediapolis brings in $71,250 a year, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 7.0%. Mediapolis's housing stock carries a median value of $167,300, and the median resident age is 34.7 years. About 34.3% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 67.0% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Housing supply pressure shows in Census Building Permit Survey data: 2 residential units were authorized in 2024 (Building Boom), up 100% 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. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $1,063 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 55.8 out of 100 (Moderate).

Population

1,930 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Iowa

Median Household Income

$71,250 /yr

Poverty 7.0%

Cost of Living Index (state)

87.8 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Iowa average

How does Mediapolis compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 51% higher than other cities
Home value 33% pricier than other cities
Median rent 25% 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 Mediapolis against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Iowa only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Iowa-relative analysis

Bachelor's Degree or Higher is Mediapolis's strongest outlier among Iowa cities

Among the 858 Iowa cities PlainCities tracks with reported bachelor's degree or higher data, Mediapolis ranks #86 - the 90th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Mediapolis only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#305 of 845
64th percentile in Iowa
Median Gross Rent
#212 of 858
74th percentile in Iowa
Median Home Value
#200 of 849
76th percentile in Iowa
Poverty Rate
#370 of 858
56th percentile in Iowa
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#86 of 858
90th 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.

51stIncome percentile

51st percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Mediapolis's home value compares nationally

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

$167,300 Among the most affordable more affordable than 67% 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. Mediapolis $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 - Mediapolis, IA Mediapolis, IA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Mediapolis, 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 Mediapolis, IA median $71,250/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%
Mediapolis, 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 Mediapolis, IA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 34.3%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 7.0%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 67.0%

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

Population
1,930
Median Income
$71,250
Median Home Value
$167,300
Median Age
34.7
Poverty Rate
7.0%
Labor force participation
67.0%
Bachelor's Degree+
34.3%

Schools

Total Schools
3
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
1,620 residents1,640 residents1,660 residents1,680 residents1,700 residents 202020212022202320242025 1,682 residents 1,660 residents ▼ -1.3%
Mediapolis's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

📈 Building Boom
Total Permits (2024)
2
housing units authorized
Single-Family
2
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
1
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 1
2020 1
2021 1
2022 2
2023 3
2024 2

Permit volume increased 100% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
83.6%
Carpool
6.4%
Public Transit
0.6%
Walk
0.9%
Work from Home
7.4%
Other
1.1%

Based on 900 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 Mediapolis sits in

Cost of Living Index
87.8
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,063/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
55.8 / 100
Moderate
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Iowa

Wapello
1,935 people
Peosta
1,922 people
Britt
1,919 people
Granger
1,919 people
Durant
1,904 people
Ida Grove
1,904 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Mediapolis's 1,930 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Cave City, AR
1,930 people
Cabana Colony, FL
1,930 people
New Johnsonville, TN
1,930 people
Scenic, AZ
1,931 people
Ellijay, GA
1,931 people
Hart, MI
1,931 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Mediapolis's $71,250 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Whatley, AL
$71,250 median income
Gay, GA
$71,250 median income
Pine Lake, GA
$71,250 median income
Deary, ID
$71,250 median income
Newdale, ID
$71,250 median income
Annawan, IL
$71,250 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Mediapolis, 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 Mediapolis, IA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 92.2% 6.4% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 2.8% White 92.2% Black or African American 1.1% Asian 0.2% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.0% Two or more races 6.4% 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 Mediapolis 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
Mediapolis (this city) 1,930 $71,250
Wapello 1,935 $71,131
Peosta 1,922 $120,375
Britt 1,919 $64,257
Census ACS 5-year FIPS IA NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Mediapolis, IA?

What is the population of Mediapolis, IA? +

Mediapolis, IA has a population of 1,930 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

Mediapolis households earn a median of $71,250 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Mediapolis? +

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

Mediapolis's median home value sits at $167,300, 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

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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.