City profile · Iowa · Census ACS 2023

Solon, IA

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

3,092
Residents
$111,597
Median income
$305,300
Median home
$1,141
Median rent (state)

Solon - the verdict

Nationally, Solon sits in the 84th percentile for household income among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS.

84th
percentile, household income
66th
percentile, home value
32nd
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: Solon, IA

Solon is a small town in Iowa, home to 3,092 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Solon households earn a median of $111,597 annually, placing it in the top quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 1.6%. Typical homes in Solon are valued around $305,300, and the median resident age is 39.4 years. 41.3% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 71.8% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 36 residential units authorized here in 2024 (Growing), up 6% from five years earlier.

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 $1,141 monthly. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Iowa's average monthly utility costs around $212 (state average). Workers in Solon report an average commute of 18.8 minutes, with 77.5% driving alone and 10.8% working from home. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 87.4 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very High).

Population

3,092 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Iowa

Median Household Income

$111,597 /yr

Poverty 1.6%

Cost of Living Index (state)

87.8 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Iowa average

How does Solon compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 84% higher than other cities
Home value 66% pricier than other cities
Median rent 32% 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 Solon against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Iowa only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Iowa-relative analysis

Median Home Value is Solon's strongest outlier among Iowa cities

Among the 849 Iowa cities PlainCities tracks with reported median home value data, Solon ranks #28 - the 97th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Solon only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#33 of 845
96th percentile in Iowa
Median Gross Rent
#133 of 858
83rd percentile in Iowa
Median Home Value
#28 of 849
97th percentile in Iowa
Poverty Rate
#711 of 858
17th percentile in Iowa
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#61 of 858
93rd 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.

84thIncome percentile

84th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Solon's home value compares nationally

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

$305,300 34th percentile more affordable than 34% 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. Solon $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 - Solon, IA Solon, IA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Solon, 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 Solon, IA median $111,597/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%
Solon, 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 Solon, IA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 41.3%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 1.6%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 71.8%

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

Population
3,092
Median Income
$111,597
Median Home Value
$305,300
Median Age
39.4
Poverty Rate
1.6%
Labor force participation
71.8%
Bachelor's Degree+
41.3%

Schools

Total Schools
4
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
3,000 residents3,100 residents3,200 residents3,300 residents3,400 residents 202020212022202320242025 3,040 residents 3,345 residents ▲ +10.0%
Solon's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

🏗️ Growing
Total Permits (2024)
36
housing units authorized
Single-Family
30
detached homes
Multifamily
6
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
11.6
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 34
2020 25
2021 31
2022 37
2023 40
2024 36

Permit volume increased 6% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
18.8 minutes
Drive Alone
77.5%
Carpool
6.5%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
2.7%
Work from Home
10.8%
Other
2.5%

Based on 1,643 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 Solon 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

Tama
3,079 people
Tipton
3,111 people
Garner
3,062 people
West Burlington
3,184 people
Wilton
2,943 people
Milford
3,315 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Solon's 3,092 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Fairport Harbor, OH
3,092 people
Park Hill, OK
3,092 people
Big Lake, TX
3,092 people
Brighton, AL
3,091 people
Saugatuck, CT
3,091 people
El Cerro, NM
3,093 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Solon's $111,597 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

King of Prussia, PA
$111,600 median income
Harpers Ferry, WV
$111,600 median income
Westmont, NJ
$111,589 median income
Lake Hopatcong, NJ
$111,614 median income
Heidelberg, MN
$111,563 median income
Clear Lake Shores, TX
$111,563 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Solon, 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 Solon, IA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 95.3% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 1.3% White 95.3% Black or African American 0.3% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.8% Two or more races 3.7% 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 Solon 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
Solon (this city) 3,092 $111,597
Tama 3,079 $61,944
Tipton 3,111 $67,625
Garner 3,062 $68,964
Census ACS 5-year FIPS IA NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Solon, IA?

What is the population of Solon, IA? +

Solon, IA counts 3,092 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

In Solon, the typical household earns $111,597 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Solon? +

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

A typical home in Solon is worth $305,300, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

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