City profile · Iowa · Census ACS 2023

Menlo, IA

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

355
Residents
$78,333
Median income
$107,100
Median home
$1,318
Median rent (state)

Menlo - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Menlo lands in the 60th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

60th
percentile, household income
12th
percentile, home value
47th
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: Menlo, IA

Iowa's Menlo is a small town, with 355 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. Median household income here is $78,333 per year, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 1.9%. Home values in Menlo run a median of $107,100, and the median resident age is 46.1 years. About 8.6% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 72.4% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 0 residential units authorized here in 2024 (No Permits).

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. HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $1,318 per month. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Iowa's average monthly utility costs around $212 (state average). Commute times here average 19.9 minutes, with 77.4% driving alone and 12.3% working from home, per Census ACS commuting data. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 26.5 out of 100 (Very Low).

Population

355 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Iowa

Median Household Income

$78,333 /yr

Poverty 1.9%

Cost of Living Index (state)

87.8 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Iowa average

How does Menlo compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 60% higher than other cities
Home value 12% pricier than other cities
Median rent 47% 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 Menlo 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 Menlo's strongest outlier among Iowa cities

Among the 858 Iowa cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Menlo ranks #34 - the 90th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Menlo only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#203 of 845
76th percentile in Iowa
Median Gross Rent
#34 of 858
90th percentile in Iowa
Median Home Value
#489 of 849
42nd percentile in Iowa
Poverty Rate
#692 of 858
19th percentile in Iowa
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#740 of 858
14th 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.

60thIncome percentile

60th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Menlo's home value compares nationally

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

$107,100 Among the most affordable more affordable than 88% 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. Menlo $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 - Menlo, IA Menlo, IA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Menlo, 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 Menlo, IA median $78,333/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%
Menlo, 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 Menlo, IA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 8.6%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 1.9%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 72.4%

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

Population
355
Median Income
$78,333
Median Home Value
$107,100
Median Age
46.1
Poverty Rate
1.9%
Labor force participation
72.4%
Bachelor's Degree+
8.6%

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
340 residents342 residents344 residents346 residents348 residents 202020212022202320242025 344 residents 346 residents ▲ +0.6%
Menlo's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

Total Permits (2024)
0
housing units authorized
Single-Family
0
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 0
2020 0
2021 0
2022 1
2023 1
2024 0

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
19.9 minutes
Drive Alone
77.4%
Carpool
3.1%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
7.2%
Work from Home
12.3%

Based on 195 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 Menlo sits in

Cost of Living Index
87.8
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,318/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
26.5 / 100
Very Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Iowa

Sandusky
355 people
Lehigh
354 people
Rowley
354 people
Wesley
356 people
Terril
357 people
Ute
351 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Menlo's 355 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Ridgecrest Heights, CA
355 people
Shaver Lake, CA
355 people
Eldorado Springs, CO
355 people
Twelve Mile, IN
355 people
Gorham, KS
355 people
McHenry, KY
355 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Menlo's $78,333 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Cressey, CA
$78,333 median income
Delaware City, DE
$78,333 median income
Snow Lake, IN
$78,333 median income
Whitesville, KY
$78,333 median income
Westville, NJ
$78,333 median income
Leicester, NY
$78,333 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Menlo, 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 Menlo, IA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 89.6% 10.4% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 3.7% White 89.6% Black or African American 0.0% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.0% Two or more races 10.4% 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 Menlo 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
Menlo (this city) 355 $78,333
Sandusky 355 $96,118
Lehigh 354 $58,824
Rowley 354 $60,417
Census ACS 5-year FIPS IA Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Menlo, IA?

What is the population of Menlo, IA? +

Menlo, IA counts 355 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

Menlo households earn a median of $78,333 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Menlo? +

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

Homes in Menlo carry a median value of $107,100, 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

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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.