City profile · Iowa · Census ACS 2023

New Sharon, IA

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

1,147
Residents
$60,000
Median income
$125,000
Median home
$947
Median rent (state)

New Sharon - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, New Sharon places in the 35th percentile for household income and the 98th percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

35th
percentile, household income
19th
percentile, home value
10th
percentile, median rent
98th
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: New Sharon, IA

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 1,147 residents in New Sharon, a small town within Iowa. New Sharon households earn a median of $60,000 annually, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 10.1%. Home values in New Sharon run a median of $125,000, and the median resident age is 38.9 years. 21.9% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 65.9% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 3 residential units authorized here in 2024 (Low Activity). New Sharon reports a comparatively low crime rate: FBI UCR reporting places total crime at 80.5 incidents per 100,000 residents, below the national average (voluntary agency reporting, reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score).

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 $947 per month statewide. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Iowa's average monthly utility costs around $212 (state average). On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 29.7 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very Low).

Population

1,147 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Iowa

Median Household Income

$60,000 /yr

Poverty 10.1%

Cost of Living Index (state)

87.8 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Iowa average

How does New Sharon compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 35% higher than other cities
Home value 19% pricier than other cities
Median rent 10% pricier than other cities
Safety 98% safer than other cities

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

Zoom in to just Iowa and the picture shifts: New Sharon ranks #4 of 141 Iowa cities by lowest crime rate, a different read than the national percentile above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares New Sharon 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, New Sharon ranks #238 - the 72nd percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares New Sharon only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#536 of 845
36th percentile in Iowa
Median Gross Rent
#404 of 858
52nd percentile in Iowa
Median Home Value
#385 of 849
54th percentile in Iowa
Poverty Rate
#238 of 858
72nd percentile in Iowa
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#264 of 858
69th 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.

35thIncome percentile
98thSafety percentile

35th percentile nationally for median household income · 98th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

New Sharon's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

New Sharon'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 73 Avg. percentile National median
New Sharon'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 New Sharon's home value compares nationally

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

$125,000 Among the most affordable more affordable than 81% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $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. New Sharon $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 - New Sharon, IA New Sharon, IA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not New Sharon, 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 New Sharon, IA median $60,000/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%
New Sharon, 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 New Sharon, IA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 21.9%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 10.1%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 65.9%

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

Population
1,147
Median Income
$60,000
Median Home Value
$125,000
Median Age
38.9
Poverty Rate
10.1%
Labor force participation
65.9%
Bachelor's Degree+
21.9%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
80.5
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
0.0
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
80.5
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.

Schools

Total Schools
2
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
1,245 residents1,250 residents1,255 residents1,260 residents 202020212022202320242025 1,256 residents 1,247 residents ▼ -0.7%
New Sharon's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

🏗️ Low Activity
Total Permits (2024)
3
housing units authorized
Single-Family
1
detached homes
Multifamily
2
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
2.6
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

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

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
80.9%
Carpool
7.9%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
1.7%
Work from Home
9.6%

Based on 596 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 New Sharon sits in

Cost of Living Index
87.8
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$947/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
29.7 / 100
Very Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Iowa

Glidden
1,153 people
Wayland
1,140 people
St. Ansgar
1,156 people
Conrad
1,170 people
Palo
1,173 people
Lansing
1,111 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to New Sharon's 1,147 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Hotchkiss, CO
1,147 people
Americus, KS
1,147 people
Coleman, MI
1,147 people
Elgin, MN
1,147 people
Columbus, NM
1,147 people
Ruby, NY
1,147 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to New Sharon's $60,000 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Okolona, AR
$60,000 median income
Inglis, FL
$60,000 median income
Lake Hamilton, FL
$60,000 median income
Diamond, IL
$60,000 median income
Palestine, IL
$60,000 median income
Lagro, IN
$60,000 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - New Sharon, 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 New Sharon, IA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 96.2% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 0.0% White 96.2% 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 3.8% 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 New Sharon 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
New Sharon (this city) 1,147 $60,000
Glidden 1,153 $73,393
Wayland 1,140 $67,000
St. Ansgar 1,156 $75,208
Census ACS 5-year FIPS IA FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about New Sharon, IA?

What is the population of New Sharon, IA? +

New Sharon, IA counts 1,147 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in New Sharon, IA? +

In New Sharon, the typical household earns $60,000 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in New Sharon? +

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

New Sharon has a total crime rate of 80.5 per 100,000 residents, which is below 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 New Sharon, IA? +

The median home value in New Sharon is $125,000, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

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