City profile · Iowa · Census ACS 2023

Milton, IA

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

451
Residents
$41,875
Median income
$54,400
Median home
$919
Median rent (state)

Milton - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Milton places in the 9th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

9th
percentile, household income
1st
percentile, home value
6th
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: Milton, IA

451 people live in Milton, Iowa - a small town by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. The typical household in Milton brings in $41,875 a year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 26.2%. Home values in Milton run a median of $54,400, and the median resident age is 33.3 years. 9.3% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 56.4% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

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 $919 per month statewide. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Iowa run around $212, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 33.6 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very Low).

Population

451 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Iowa

Median Household Income

$41,875 /yr

Poverty 26.2%

Cost of Living Index (state)

87.8 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Iowa average

How does Milton compare to other US cities?

Where Milton sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 9% higher than other cities
Home value 1% pricier than other cities
Median rent 6% 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

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Milton's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in Iowa, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

9thIncome percentile

9th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Milton's home value compares nationally

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

$54,400 Among the most affordable more affordable than 99% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Above this entry. $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. Milton $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 - Milton, IA Milton, IA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Milton, 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 Milton, IA median $41,875/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%
Milton, 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 Milton, IA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 9.3%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 26.2%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 56.4%

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

Population
451
Median Income
$41,875
Median Home Value
$54,400
Median Age
33.3
Poverty Rate
26.2%
Labor force participation
56.4%
Bachelor's Degree+
9.3%

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
385 residents390 residents395 residents400 residents 202020212022202320242025 392 residents 387 residents ▼ -1.3%
Milton's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
54.7%
Carpool
11.0%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
13.3%
Work from Home
20.4%
Other
0.6%

Based on 181 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 Milton sits in

Cost of Living Index
87.8
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$919/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
33.6 / 100
Very Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Iowa

Arlington
452 people
Clermont
452 people
Bussey
453 people
Maynard
448 people
Thompson
448 people
Oxford Junction
447 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Milton's 451 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Iuka, IL
451 people
Leigh, NE
451 people
Fort Wingate, NM
451 people
Nenahnezad, NM
451 people
Ojo Encino, NM
451 people
Green Camp, OH
451 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Milton's $41,875 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Ashland, AL
$41,875 median income
South Taft, CA
$41,875 median income
Malone, FL
$41,875 median income
Minidoka, ID
$41,875 median income
Arcadia, MO
$41,875 median income
Mountain Grove, MO
$41,875 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Milton, 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 Milton, IA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 98.9% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 0.4% White 98.9% 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 1.1% 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 Milton 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
Milton (this city) 451 $41,875
Arlington 452 $41,250
Clermont 452 $73,906
Bussey 453 $47,857
Census ACS 5-year FIPS IA OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Milton, IA?

What is the population of Milton, IA? +

Milton, IA counts 451 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

Milton households earn a median of $41,875 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Milton? +

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

The median home value in Milton is $54,400, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, 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 Editorial

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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.