City profile · Iowa · Census ACS 2023

Red Oak, IA

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

5,542
Residents
$52,996
Median income
$91,600
Median home
$919
Median rent (state)

Red Oak - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Red Oak places in the 24th percentile for household income and the 55th percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

24th
percentile, household income
7th
percentile, home value
6th
percentile, median rent
55th
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: Red Oak, IA

Iowa's Red Oak is a small town, with 5,542 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. Median household income here is $52,996 per year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 12.7%. Typical homes in Red Oak are valued around $91,600, and the median resident age is 39.7 years. 15.4% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 55.6% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Housing supply pressure shows in Census Building Permit Survey data: 6 residential units were authorized in 2024 (Building Boom), up 200% from five years earlier. Red Oak reports a comparatively low crime rate: FBI UCR reporting places total crime at 1218.4 incidents per 100,000 residents, below the national average (voluntary agency reporting, reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score). The annual average temperature per NOAA climate normals runs 50.8°F with 37.2 inches of precipitation per year and 27.4 inches of snowfall.

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). Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $919 monthly. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Iowa's average monthly utility costs around $212 (state average). FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 33.7 out of 100 (Very Low).

Population

5,542 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Iowa

Median Household Income

$52,996 /yr

Poverty 12.7%

Cost of Living Index (state)

87.8 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Iowa average

How does Red Oak compare to other US cities?

Red Oak measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 24% higher than other cities
Home value 7% pricier than other cities
Median rent 6% pricier than other cities
Safety 55% safer than other cities

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

National percentiles can mask local variation. Looking only at Iowa, Red Oak ranks #91 of 141 Iowa cities by lowest crime rate - a narrower, more locally useful cut than the national comparison above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Red Oak 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 Red Oak near the bottom of Iowa's cities

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

Median Household Income
#694 of 845
18th percentile in Iowa
Median Gross Rent
#450 of 858
0th percentile in Iowa
Median Home Value
#601 of 849
29th percentile in Iowa
Poverty Rate
#135 of 858
84th percentile in Iowa
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#534 of 858
37th 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.

24thIncome percentile
55thSafety percentile

24th percentile nationally for median household income · 55th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Red Oak's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Red Oak'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 58 Avg. percentile National median
Red Oak'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 Red Oak's home value compares nationally

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

$91,600 Among the most affordable more affordable than 93% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Above this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $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. Red Oak $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 - Red Oak, IA Red Oak, IA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Red Oak, 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 Red Oak, IA median $52,996/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%
Red Oak, 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 Red Oak, IA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 15.4%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 12.7%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 55.6%

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

Population
5,542
Median Income
$52,996
Median Home Value
$91,600
Median Age
39.7
Poverty Rate
12.7%
Labor force participation
55.6%
Bachelor's Degree+
15.4%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
1218.4
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
276.9
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
941.5
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.

Climate

Avg Temperature
50.8°F
Annual Precipitation
37.2"
Annual Snowfall
27.4"

Schools

Total Schools
3
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
5,300 residents5,400 residents5,500 residents5,600 residents5,700 residents 202020212022202320242025 5,596 residents 5,388 residents ▼ -3.7%
Red Oak's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

📈 Building Boom
Total Permits (2024)
6
housing units authorized
Single-Family
6
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
1.1
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 2
2020 2
2021 1
2022 1
2023 4
2024 6

Permit volume increased 200% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
79.4%
Carpool
9.1%
Public Transit
0.5%
Walk
0.9%
Work from Home
10.1%

Based on 2,437 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 Red Oak 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
33.7 / 100
Very Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Iowa

DeWitt
5,535 people
Anamosa
5,553 people
Osceola
5,495 people
Spirit Lake
5,469 people
Algona
5,414 people
Sheldon
5,386 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Red Oak's 5,542 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Trenton, MO
5,542 people
Dulles Town Center, VA
5,541 people
Morganville, NJ
5,544 people
Pahokee, FL
5,539 people
Margaret, AL
5,538 people
La Habra Heights, CA
5,546 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Red Oak's $52,996 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Lecanto, FL
$52,996 median income
Arlee, MT
$53,000 median income
Pawlet, VT
$53,000 median income
Greenville, ME
$52,991 median income
Eatonton, GA
$52,989 median income
Alton, IL
$53,005 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Red Oak, 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 Red Oak, IA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 90.3% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 1.7% White 90.3% Black or African American 1.0% Asian 0.9% American Indian 0.5% Native Hawaiian 1.0% Some other race 1.7% Two or more races 4.6% 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 Red Oak 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
Red Oak (this city) 5,542 $52,996
DeWitt 5,535 $84,474
Anamosa 5,553 $56,167
Osceola 5,495 $62,363
Census ACS 5-year FIPS IA FBI UCR NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Red Oak, IA?

What is the population of Red Oak, IA? +

The population of Red Oak, IA stands at 5,542 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Red Oak, IA? +

In Red Oak, the typical household earns $52,996 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Red Oak? +

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

Red Oak has a total crime rate of 1218.4 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 Red Oak, IA? +

Red Oak's median home value sits at $91,600, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Red Oak? +

The average annual temperature in Red Oak runs 50.8°F, 37.2 inches of precipitation, and 27.4 inches of snowfall per year. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

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