City profile · Iowa · Census ACS 2023

North Liberty, IA

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

20,782
Residents
$103,933
Median income
$300,000
Median home
$1,141
Median rent (state)

North Liberty - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, North Liberty lands in the 80th percentile for household income and the 87th percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

80th
percentile, household income
65th
percentile, home value
32nd
percentile, median rent
87th
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: North Liberty, IA

Iowa's North Liberty is a small city, with 20,782 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. The typical household in North Liberty brings in $103,933 a year, placing it in the top quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 1.8%. Home values in North Liberty run a median of $300,000, and the median resident age is 31.8 years. 53.3% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 77.4% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 134 residential building permits were authorized in North Liberty (Rapid Growth), up 44% from five years earlier, per Census BPS data. North Liberty reports a comparatively low crime rate: FBI UCR figures show 466.8 crimes per 100,000 residents, below the national average (reporting is voluntary across agencies, so treat this as reporting activity rather than a definitive danger score).

Living costs in Iowa run below the national norm: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts Iowa at 87.8 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Well Below Average). A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $1,141 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 87.4 out of 100 (Very High).

Population

20,782 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Iowa

Median Household Income

$103,933 /yr

Poverty 1.8%

Cost of Living Index (state)

87.8 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Iowa average

How does North Liberty compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 80% higher than other cities
Home value 65% pricier than other cities
Median rent 32% pricier than other cities
Safety 87% 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: North Liberty ranks #42 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 North Liberty 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 North Liberty's strongest outlier among Iowa cities

Among the 858 Iowa cities PlainCities tracks with reported bachelor's degree or higher data, North Liberty ranks #23 - the 97th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares North Liberty only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#50 of 845
94th percentile in Iowa
Median Gross Rent
#133 of 858
83rd percentile in Iowa
Median Home Value
#32 of 849
96th percentile in Iowa
Poverty Rate
#700 of 858
17th percentile in Iowa
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#23 of 858
97th 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.

80thIncome percentile
87thSafety percentile

80th percentile nationally for median household income · 87th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

North Liberty's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

North Liberty'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
North Liberty'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 North Liberty's home value compares nationally

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

$300,000 35th percentile more affordable than 35% 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%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). This entry sits in this band. $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. North Liberty $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 - North Liberty, IA North Liberty, IA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not North Liberty, 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 North Liberty, IA median $103,933/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%
North Liberty, 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 North Liberty, IA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 53.3%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 1.8%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 77.4%

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

Population
20,782
Median Income
$103,933
Median Home Value
$300,000
Median Age
31.8
Poverty Rate
1.8%
Labor force participation
77.4%
Bachelor's Degree+
53.3%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
466.8
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
69.3
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
397.5
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
7
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
20,000 residents20,500 residents21,000 residents21,500 residents22,000 residents22,500 residents 202020212022202320242025 20,501 residents 21,976 residents ▲ +7.2%
North Liberty's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

📈 Rapid Growth
Total Permits (2024)
134
housing units authorized
Single-Family
134
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
6.4
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 93
2020 117
2021 278
2022 126
2023 308
2024 134

Permit volume increased 44% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
73.2%
Carpool
11.9%
Public Transit
0.8%
Walk
0.6%
Work from Home
13.4%

Based on 11,536 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 North Liberty sits in

Cost of Living Index
87.8
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,141/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
87.4 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Iowa

Altoona
20,592 people
Clive
18,776 people
Coralville
22,846 people
Muscatine
23,567 people
Burlington
23,800 people
Johnston
24,196 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to North Liberty's 20,782 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Louisville, CO
20,788 people
North Bellmore, NY
20,776 people
Hammond, LA
20,790 people
Niskayuna, NY
20,774 people
Hauppauge, NY
20,772 people
West Hempstead, NY
20,762 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to North Liberty's $103,933 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Grahamsville, NY
$103,938 median income
Mount Prospect, IL
$103,911 median income
Summit View, WA
$103,910 median income
Leesburg, IN
$103,958 median income
Rothsville, PA
$103,958 median income
Wainiha, HI
$103,906 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - North Liberty, 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 North Liberty, IA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 81.3% 8.0% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 5.8% White 81.3% Black or African American 4.6% Asian 4.9% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.1% Some other race 1.0% Two or more races 8.0% 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 North Liberty 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
North Liberty (this city) 20,782 $103,933
Altoona 20,592 $87,123
Clive 18,776 $131,082
Coralville 22,846 $66,508
Census ACS 5-year FIPS IA FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about North Liberty, IA?

What is the population of North Liberty, IA? +

20,782 people live in North Liberty, IA according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in North Liberty, IA? +

In North Liberty, the typical household earns $103,933 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in North Liberty? +

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

North Liberty has a total crime rate of 466.8 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 North Liberty, IA? +

Homes in North Liberty carry a median value of $300,000, 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

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.