City profile · Iowa · Census ACS 2023

State Center, IA

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

1,548
Residents
$72,303
Median income
$156,300
Median home
$959
Median rent (state)

State Center - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, State Center places in the 53rd percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

53rd
percentile, household income
29th
percentile, home value
11th
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: State Center, IA

1,548 people live in State Center, Iowa - a small town by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Median household income here is $72,303 per year, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 8.7%. State Center's housing stock carries a median value of $156,300, and the median resident age is 35.0 years. 26.4% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 71.8% 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 (Construction Slowdown), down 40% 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). HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $959 per month. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Iowa run around $212, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. Natural-hazard exposure scores 62.5 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Moderate).

Population

1,548 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Iowa

Median Household Income

$72,303 /yr

Poverty 8.7%

Cost of Living Index (state)

87.8 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Iowa average

How does State Center compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 53% higher than other cities
Home value 29% pricier than other cities
Median rent 11% 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 State Center'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.

53rdIncome percentile

53rd percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How State Center's home value compares nationally

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

$156,300 Among the most affordable more affordable than 71% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $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. State Center $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 - State Center, IA State Center, IA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not State Center, 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 State Center, IA median $72,303/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%
State Center, 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 State Center, IA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 26.4%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 8.7%

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
1,548
Median Income
$72,303
Median Home Value
$156,300
Median Age
35.0
Poverty Rate
8.7%
Labor force participation
71.8%
Bachelor's Degree+
26.4%

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 →
1,385 residents1,390 residents1,395 residents1,400 residents 202020212022202320242025 1,397 residents 1,389 residents ▼ -0.6%
State Center's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

📉 Construction Slowdown
Total Permits (2024)
3
housing units authorized
Single-Family
3
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
1.9
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 5
2020 4
2021 5
2022 4
2023 3
2024 3

Permit volume decreased 40% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
73.1%
Carpool
8.5%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
1.9%
Work from Home
16.4%

Based on 834 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 State Center sits in

Cost of Living Index
87.8
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$959/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
62.5 / 100
Moderate
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Iowa

Holstein
1,552 people
Ackley
1,554 people
Wellman
1,539 people
Pocahontas
1,536 people
Brooklyn
1,565 people
Corydon
1,566 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to State Center's 1,548 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Centre Hall, PA
1,548 people
Avilla, AR
1,549 people
Higganum, CT
1,549 people
Black Diamond, FL
1,549 people
Greenville, FL
1,549 people
Grant Park, IL
1,547 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to State Center's $72,303 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

San Pedro, NM
$72,303 median income
Cleveland Heights, OH
$72,302 median income
Cambridge, IL
$72,292 median income
Guntown, MS
$72,292 median income
Loganville, WI
$72,292 median income
Lucerne, WY
$72,321 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - State Center, 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 State Center, IA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 90.7% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 12.1% White 90.7% Black or African American 0.0% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 5.1% Two or more races 4.2% 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 State Center 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
State Center (this city) 1,548 $72,303
Holstein 1,552 $61,625
Ackley 1,554 $61,667
Wellman 1,539 $56,696
Census ACS 5-year FIPS IA NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about State Center, IA?

What is the population of State Center, IA? +

1,548 people live in State Center, IA according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in State Center, IA? +

Median annual household income in State Center runs $72,303, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in State Center? +

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

State Center's median home value sits at $156,300, 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.