City · Iowa

North Liberty, Iowa

North Liberty, city, in Johnson County, Iowa. North Liberty had 21,976 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 7.3% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 20,479 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 21,125 (±43). GEOID 1957360.

Residents, July 2025 estimate

21,976

Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 20,479 · ACS 2020-2024: 21,125 ±43

Median household income

$102,102

±$5,092 (90% margin)
Iowa: $75,059

Median home value

$303,800

±$20,749 (90% margin)
Iowa: $208,000

Median gross rent

$1,246

±$104 (90% margin)
Iowa: $972

Where is North Liberty and what county is it in?

North Liberty is a city in Johnson County, Iowa. It covers 9.5 square miles of land, 2,148 residents per square mile in 2020.

North Liberty is in the Iowa City, IA metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 2 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).

North Liberty (marked with a dot) in Johnson County, Iowa. Boundaries: Census Bureau 2024.

Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files

How many people live in North Liberty, and is it growing?

The Census Bureau estimates that 21,976 people lived in North Liberty on July 1, 2025, up 7.3% since 2020, faster than Iowa (+1.5%). The 2020 Census counted 20,479 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 21,125 (±43).

  • July 2020→2021 +328 (20,829)
  • 2021→2022 +296 (21,125)
  • 2022→2023 +65 (21,190)
  • 2023→2024 +514 (21,704)
  • 2024→2025 +272 (21,976)
ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (counts) with the change from 2015-2019
Measure North LibertyJohnson CountyIowa Change since 2015-2019
Total population 21,125 ±43 156,639 3,210,507 +2,296
Households 8,159 ±373 63,341 1,315,707 +971
Average household size 2.58 ±0.12 2.34 2.36 no clear change
Housing units 8,739 ±463 68,217 1,437,699 +1,191

North Liberty's population since 2000

From 5,367 in 2000 to 21,976 in 2025: up 309.5%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for North Liberty as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.

  • 2000 Census 5,367
  • 2005 (estimate) 9,474
  • 2010 Census 13,374
  • 2015 (estimate) 18,181
  • 2020 Census 20,479
  • 2025 (estimate) 21,976

Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov

Who lives in North Liberty?

The median resident of North Liberty is 31.7 years old; 27.3% are under 18 and 7.2% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 79.2%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 6.5%. 6.3% of residents were born outside the United States.

Age, origin, education and moves, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Race groups are non-Hispanic; Hispanic includes any race.
Measure North LibertyJohnson CountyIowa Change since 2015-2019
Median age 31.7 ±2.0 31.0 38.6 no clear change
Under 18 years 27.3% ±2.4 pts 19.3% 22.9% –
65 years and over 7.2% ±1.4 pts 13.3% 18.1% –
Male 51.1% ±2.7 pts 49.7% 50.2% –
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 6.5% ±2.6 pts 6.7% 7.3% no clear change
White alone, not Hispanic 79.2% ±4.1 pts 74.8% 82.3% no clear change
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic 4.0% ±1.6 pts 7.6% 3.8% no clear change
Asian alone, not Hispanic 4.2% ±1.7 pts 5.6% 2.5% no clear change
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic 0.0% ±0.1 pts 0.1% 0.2% –
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic 0.1% ±0.1 pts 0.0% 0.2% –
Two or more races, not Hispanic 5.9% ±2.2 pts 4.6% 3.5% –
Some other race alone, not Hispanic 0.1% ±0.1 pts 0.5% 0.3% –
Born outside the United States 6.3% ±2.2 pts 9.8% 5.9% no clear change
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) 7.9% ±2.6 pts 14.7% 9.1% –
Civilian veterans (age 18+) 4.7% ±1.9 pts 3.9% 6.5% –
With a disability 6.2% ±1.4 pts 9.9% 12.6% –
No health insurance coverage 2.4% ±1.0 pts 4.7% 5.0% no clear change
High school graduate or higher (age 25+) 98.8% ±0.8 pts 96.3% 93.3% –
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) 54.5% ±4.0 pts 55.2% 31.4% no clear change
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) 18.4% ±2.8 pts 24.1% 10.5% –
Lived in the same house a year earlier 84.0% ±4.3 pts 77.5% 87.1% –
Moved from another state in the past year 3.8% ±2.7 pts 4.3% 2.2% –

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov

What do households in North Liberty earn?

Half of North Liberty's 8,159 households earn less than $102,102 a year (±$5,092), against $74,935 in Johnson County and $75,059 in Iowa. In 2015-2019 it was $103,316 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 6.1% of residents live below the poverty line.

Income and poverty in 2024 dollars, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates; 2015-2019 dollars adjusted with the R-CPI-U-RS
Measure North LibertyJohnson CountyIowa Change since 2015-2019
Median household income $102,102 ±$5,092 $74,935 $75,059 no clear change
Mean household income $140,947 ±$23,946 $108,874 $98,187 –
Per capita income $56,369 ±$9,831 $45,136 $40,877 +$11,221
People below the poverty line 6.1% ±2.3 pts 17.1% 11.1% no clear change
Children under 18 below the poverty line 2.6% ±2.1 pts 11.1% 12.9% –
Households receiving SNAP 2.7% ±1.5 pts 6.0% 8.8% –
Households with a computer 97.8% ±1.6 pts 97.0% 94.7% –
Households with a broadband subscription 95.0% ±2.1 pts 89.2% 88.9% –

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov

What does housing cost in North Liberty?

Owners occupy 66.9% of North Liberty's occupied homes and renters 33.1%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $303,800 by its owner (±$20,749). The median renter pays $1,246 a month including utilities, and 29.6% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Home values are owners' own estimates.
Measure North LibertyJohnson CountyIowa Change since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied) $303,800 ±$20,749 $308,600 $208,000 +$32,063
Median gross rent $1,246 ±$104 $1,122 $972 no clear change
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent 29.6% ±10.1 pts 46.3% 35.2% no clear change
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage $1,921 ±$93 $1,948 $1,533 –
Owner-occupied homes 66.9% ±4.9 pts 59.4% 71.7% no clear change
Renter-occupied homes 33.1% ±4.9 pts 40.6% 28.3% –
Housing units 8,739 ±463 68,217 1,437,699 +1,191
Homeowner vacancy rate 0.1% ±0.3 pts 0.7% 0.8% –
Rental vacancy rate 3.1% ±3.6 pts 6.5% 5.7% –
Single-family detached homes 48.9% ±4.6 pts 48.0% 72.2% –
Mobile homes 5.1% ±2.3 pts 3.8% 3.2% –
Built 2020 or later 2.7% ±1.2 pts 2.7% 1.7% –
Built 2010 to 2019 29.2% ±4.7 pts 18.7% 9.2% –
Built 1939 or earlier 1.6% ±1.0 pts 9.4% 23.5% –
Households with no vehicle 2.9% ±1.6 pts 7.1% 5.4% –

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov

How many new homes is North Liberty building?

Builders took permits for 520 new housing units in North Liberty in 2025 (169 in single-family houses), 23.7 per 1,000 residents against 4.2 across Iowa.

  • 2019 93 units
  • 2020 117 units
  • 2021 278 units
  • 2022 126 units
  • 2023 308 units
  • 2024 134 units
  • 2025 520 units

Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.

Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey

How do people in North Liberty work and get to work?

74.9% of North Liberty's workers drive alone and 16.3% work from home. The average trip to work takes 24.6 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 3.3%.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (workers 16 and over)
Measure North LibertyJohnson CountyIowa Change since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+) 77.4% ±3.1 pts 69.4% 66.4% –
Unemployment rate 3.3% ±2.0 pts 3.8% 3.6% –
Drove alone to work 74.9% ±4.7 pts 65.2% 76.0% –
Carpooled 7.3% ±3.0 pts 6.3% 7.8% –
Public transportation 0.6% ±0.6 pts 3.7% 0.7% –
Walked 0.9% ±0.6 pts 8.2% 2.9% –
Worked from home 16.3% ±4.1 pts 13.7% 11.3% +13.3 pts
Mean travel time to work 24.6 min ±3.5 19.4 min 19.8 min no clear change

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov

What census tracts are in North Liberty?

5 census tracts lie mostly in North Liberty, and 2 more reach into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $100,814 (Tract 103.05) to $148,009 (Tract 103.08).

Census tracts in North Liberty, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
TractResidents, 2020-2024Median household incomeMedian home valueShare of tract in North Liberty
Tract 103.04Johnson County7,132 $106,088 $282,10082%
Tract 103.05Johnson County5,772 $100,814 $254,70096%
Tract 103.07Johnson County3,693 $102,969 $390,30084%
Tract 103.08Johnson County5,457 $148,009 $451,20050%
Tract 103.06Johnson County2,850 $132,875 $425,70060%
Tract 103.03Johnson County8,913 $99,646 $343,4009%
Tract 3.03Johnson County2,777 $61,319 $149,70020%

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in North Liberty) · Census block assignment files

How does North Liberty compare with other places in Iowa?

By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, North Liberty is the 1,795th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 27th-most populous of 939 in Iowa.

North Liberty ranks 37th of 279 places in Iowa with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.

North Liberty's rank in Iowa (1 = highest): by population among the state's incorporated places with a 2025 estimate; by the other measures among places of 1,000+ residents with a reliable estimate
MeasureRankOf
Population, July 2025 estimate27th939
Growth 2020-2025 (PEP)29th275
Residents per square mile11th279
Median household income37th279
Per capita income10th279
Median home value27th279
Median gross rent15th266
Poverty rate197th232
Bachelor's degree or higher12th279
Median age266th279
Owner-occupied share214th279
Work from home32nd221
Travel time to work50th279

North Liberty's figures with every place in Iowa (CSV)

Every place in Iowa, sortable · Compare North Liberty with other places

Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed

How reliable are the figures for North Liberty?

9 of the 57 figures for North Liberty on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.

The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation

How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections

Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for North Liberty are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in North Liberty.