City profile · Iowa · Census ACS 2023

Palo, IA

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

1,173
Residents
$103,646
Median income
$274,200
Median home
$1,071
Median rent (state)

Palo - the verdict

Nationally, Palo sits in the 80th percentile for household income among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS.

80th
percentile, household income
60th
percentile, home value
26th
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: Palo, IA

Palo is a small town in Iowa, home to 1,173 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. The typical household in Palo brings in $103,646 a year, placing it in the top quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 0.9%. Home values in Palo run a median of $274,200, and the median resident age is 32.7 years. 27.5% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 77.9% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 0 residential units authorized here in 2024 (No Permits), down 100% 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. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $1,071 monthly. Monthly utility costs average around $212 across Iowa, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 86.7 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very High).

Population

1,173 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Iowa

Median Household Income

$103,646 /yr

Poverty 0.9%

Cost of Living Index (state)

87.8 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Iowa average

How does Palo compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 80% higher than other cities
Home value 60% pricier than other cities
Median rent 26% 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 Palo'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.

80thIncome percentile

80th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Palo's home value compares nationally

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

$274,200 40th percentile more affordable than 40% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Palo $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 - Palo, IA Palo, IA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Palo, 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 Palo, IA median $103,646/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%
Palo, 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 Palo, IA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 27.5%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 0.9%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 77.9%

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

Population
1,173
Median Income
$103,646
Median Home Value
$274,200
Median Age
32.7
Poverty Rate
0.9%
Labor force participation
77.9%
Bachelor's Degree+
27.5%

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
1,350 residents1,400 residents1,450 residents1,500 residents1,550 residents1,600 residents 202020212022202320242025 1,411 residents 1,551 residents ▲ +9.9%
Palo's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

Total Permits (2024)
0
housing units authorized
Single-Family
0
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2021 7
2022 37
2023 13
2024 0

Permit volume decreased 100% from 2021 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
79.6%
Carpool
5.1%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
0.5%
Work from Home
13.6%
Other
1.2%

Based on 661 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 Palo sits in

Cost of Living Index
87.8
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,071/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
86.7 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Iowa

Conrad
1,170 people
St. Ansgar
1,156 people
Lake Park
1,191 people
Glidden
1,153 people
New Sharon
1,147 people
Sheffield
1,204 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Palo's 1,173 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

East Gull Lake, MN
1,173 people
Elm City, NC
1,173 people
Rossville, TN
1,173 people
Sterling City, TX
1,173 people
Crocker, WA
1,173 people
Benwood, WV
1,173 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Palo's $103,646 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Peconic, NY
$103,654 median income
Monroe, OH
$103,638 median income
Farmers Loop, AK
$103,635 median income
Big Sky, MT
$103,625 median income
Davis Junction, IL
$103,615 median income
Milton CDP (Saratoga County), NY
$103,680 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Palo, 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 Palo, IA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 94.2% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 1.3% White 94.2% Black or African American 0.7% Asian 0.2% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.9% Two or more races 4.1% 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 Palo 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
Palo (this city) 1,173 $103,646
Conrad 1,170 $73,844
St. Ansgar 1,156 $75,208
Lake Park 1,191 $73,977
Census ACS 5-year FIPS IA Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Palo, IA?

What is the population of Palo, IA? +

Palo, IA has a population of 1,173 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

In Palo, the typical household earns $103,646 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Palo? +

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

A typical home in Palo is worth $274,200, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

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