City profile · Iowa · Census ACS 2023

Primghar, IA

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

965
Residents
$77,813
Median income
$135,500
Median home
$919
Median rent (state)

Primghar - the verdict

Nationally, Primghar sits in the 59th percentile for household income among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS.

59th
percentile, household income
22nd
percentile, home value
6th
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: Primghar, IA

965 people live in Primghar, Iowa - a small town by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Primghar households earn a median of $77,813 annually, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 4.6%. Typical homes in Primghar are valued around $135,500, and the median resident age is 37.3 years. 20.4% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 58.6% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Housing supply pressure shows in Census Building Permit Survey data: 3 residential units were authorized in 2024 (Low Activity). NOAA climate normals record an annual average temperature of 48.2°F with 31.4 inches of precipitation per year and 34.8 inches of snowfall.

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 $919 monthly. Monthly utility costs average around $212 across Iowa, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. Natural-hazard exposure scores 16.4 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Very Low).

Population

965 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Iowa

Median Household Income

$77,813 /yr

Poverty 4.6%

Cost of Living Index (state)

87.8 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Iowa average

How does Primghar compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 59% higher than other cities
Home value 22% pricier than other cities
Median rent 6% 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 Primghar 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 places Primghar near the bottom of Iowa's cities

Among the 858 Iowa cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Primghar ranks #450 - the 0th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Primghar only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#209 of 845
75th percentile in Iowa
Median Gross Rent
#450 of 858
0th percentile in Iowa
Median Home Value
#330 of 849
61st percentile in Iowa
Poverty Rate
#508 of 858
40th percentile in Iowa
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#324 of 858
62nd 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.

59thIncome percentile

59th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Primghar's home value compares nationally

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

$135,500 Among the most affordable more affordable than 78% 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. Primghar $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 - Primghar, IA Primghar, IA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Primghar, 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 Primghar, IA median $77,813/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%
Primghar, 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 Primghar, IA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 20.4%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 4.6%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 58.6%

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

Population
965
Median Income
$77,813
Median Home Value
$135,500
Median Age
37.3
Poverty Rate
4.6%
Labor force participation
58.6%
Bachelor's Degree+
20.4%

Climate

Avg Temperature
48.2°F
Annual Precipitation
31.4"
Annual Snowfall
34.8"

Schools

Total Schools
1
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
880 residents890 residents900 residents910 residents 202020212022202320242025 904 residents 894 residents ▼ -1.1%
Primghar'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
3
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
3.1
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 0
2020 3
2021 3
2022 2
2023 4
2024 3

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
85.3%
Carpool
8.8%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
3.8%
Work from Home
1.7%

Based on 422 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 Primghar sits in

Cost of Living Index
87.8
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$919/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
16.4 / 100
Very Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Iowa

Danville
966 people
Elk Run Heights
968 people
Underwood
977 people
Calmar
980 people
Cambridge
948 people
Victor
946 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Primghar's 965 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Gila Crossing, AZ
965 people
Tres Pinos, CA
965 people
Alma, KS
965 people
Otego, NY
965 people
Ore City, TX
965 people
Six Shooter Canyon, AZ
966 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Primghar's $77,813 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Kibler, AR
$77,813 median income
Choctaw, LA
$77,813 median income
Jefferson Heights, NY
$77,813 median income
Miller City, OH
$77,813 median income
Branchville, VA
$77,813 median income
Mars Hill, NC
$77,826 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Primghar, 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 Primghar, IA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 94.3% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 1.1% White 94.3% Black or African American 4.0% Asian 0.1% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.2% Two or more races 1.4% 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 Primghar 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
Primghar (this city) 965 $77,813
Danville 966 $82,917
Elk Run Heights 968 $68,828
Underwood 977 $90,556
Census ACS 5-year FIPS IA NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Primghar, IA?

What is the population of Primghar, IA? +

The population of Primghar, IA stands at 965 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

Median annual household income in Primghar runs $77,813, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Primghar? +

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

Primghar's median home value sits at $135,500, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Primghar? +

The average annual temperature in Primghar runs 48.2°F, 31.4 inches of precipitation, and 34.8 inches of snowfall per year. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

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