City profile · Iowa · Census ACS 2023

Neola, IA

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

1,098
Residents
$68,859
Median income
$166,400
Median home
$1,368
Median rent (state)

Neola - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Neola places in the 48th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

48th
percentile, household income
32nd
percentile, home value
53rd
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: Neola, IA

Iowa's Neola is a small town, with 1,098 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. Neola households earn a median of $68,859 annually, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 3.5%. Neola's housing stock carries a median value of $166,400, and the median resident age is 35.5 years. 14.4% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 65.7% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 3 residential units authorized here in 2024 (Building Boom), up 200% 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 $1,368 per month statewide. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Iowa's average monthly utility costs around $212 (state average). FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 80.4 out of 100 (High).

Population

1,098 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Iowa

Median Household Income

$68,859 /yr

Poverty 3.5%

Cost of Living Index (state)

87.8 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Iowa average

How does Neola compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 48% higher than other cities
Home value 32% pricier than other cities
Median rent 53% 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 Neola 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 Neola's strongest outlier among Iowa cities

Among the 858 Iowa cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Neola ranks #1 - the 96th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Neola only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#351 of 845
58th percentile in Iowa
Median Gross Rent
#1 of 858
96th percentile in Iowa
Median Home Value
#204 of 849
76th percentile in Iowa
Poverty Rate
#584 of 858
31st percentile in Iowa
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#565 of 858
34th 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

48th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Neola's home value compares nationally

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

$166,400 Among the most affordable more affordable than 68% 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. Neola $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 - Neola, IA Neola, IA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Neola, 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 Neola, IA median $68,859/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%
Neola, 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 Neola, IA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 14.4%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 3.5%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 65.7%

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

Population
1,098
Median Income
$68,859
Median Home Value
$166,400
Median Age
35.5
Poverty Rate
3.5%
Labor force participation
65.7%
Bachelor's Degree+
14.4%

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 →
900 residents905 residents910 residents915 residents920 residents 202020212022202320242025 914 residents 903 residents ▼ -1.2%
Neola's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

📈 Building Boom
Total Permits (2024)
3
housing units authorized
Single-Family
3
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
2.7
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 1
2020 2
2021 2
2022 0
2023 5
2024 3

Permit volume increased 200% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
74.0%
Carpool
6.7%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
4.1%
Work from Home
14.8%

Based on 461 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 Neola sits in

Cost of Living Index
87.8
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,368/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
80.4 / 100
High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Iowa

Sully
1,092 people
Buffalo
1,090 people
Fruitland
1,107 people
Eddyville
1,085 people
Lansing
1,111 people
Winthrop
1,081 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Neola's 1,098 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Camp Hill, AL
1,098 people
Philpot, KY
1,098 people
Springer, NM
1,098 people
Northampton, NY
1,098 people
Dilworthtown, PA
1,098 people
Bronte, TX
1,098 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Neola's $68,859 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Withamsville, OH
$68,857 median income
Sebastian, FL
$68,863 median income
Cactus Forest, AZ
$68,854 median income
Lake Alfred, FL
$68,854 median income
Rossburg, OH
$68,854 median income
Oakland CDP (Lawrence County), PA
$68,864 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Neola, 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 Neola, IA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 95.9% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 3.1% White 95.9% Black or African American 0.4% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.0% Two or more races 3.7% 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 Neola 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
Neola (this city) 1,098 $68,859
Sully 1,092 $86,576
Buffalo 1,090 $74,773
Fruitland 1,107 $101,375
Census ACS 5-year FIPS IA NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Neola, IA?

What is the population of Neola, IA? +

1,098 people live in Neola, IA according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

Median annual household income in Neola runs $68,859, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Neola? +

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

Homes in Neola carry a median value of $166,400, 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

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.