City profile · Iowa · Census ACS 2023

Sumner, IA

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

2,159
Residents
$56,174
Median income
$111,900
Median home
$978
Median rent (state)

Sumner - the verdict

Nationally, Sumner sits in the 29th percentile for household income and the 97th percentile for safety among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

29th
percentile, household income
14th
percentile, home value
18th
percentile, median rent
97th
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: Sumner, IA

Iowa's Sumner is a small town, with 2,159 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. Sumner households earn a median of $56,174 annually, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 7.9%. Typical homes in Sumner are valued around $111,900, and the median resident age is 47.1 years. About 26.1% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 56.8% 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 (Building Boom), up 200% from five years earlier. Sumner reports a comparatively low crime rate: the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program logs 147.6 total incidents per 100,000 residents here, below the national average (agency reporting is voluntary, so this measures reporting activity, not a definitive danger score).

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). A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $978 per month statewide. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Iowa run around $212, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. The average commute for Sumner workers runs 17.1 minutes, with 85.8% driving alone and 6.1% working from home. Natural-hazard exposure scores 24.6 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Very Low).

Population

2,159 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Iowa

Median Household Income

$56,174 /yr

Poverty 7.9%

Cost of Living Index (state)

87.8 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Iowa average

How does Sumner compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 29% higher than other cities
Home value 14% pricier than other cities
Median rent 18% pricier than other cities
Safety 97% 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, Sumner ranks #8 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 Sumner against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Iowa only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Iowa-relative analysis

Bachelor's Degree or Higher places Sumner toward the top of Iowa's cities

Among the 858 Iowa cities PlainCities tracks with reported bachelor's degree or higher data, Sumner ranks #176 - the 79th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Sumner only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#637 of 845
25th percentile in Iowa
Median Gross Rent
#305 of 858
64th percentile in Iowa
Median Home Value
#459 of 849
46th percentile in Iowa
Poverty Rate
#319 of 858
62nd percentile in Iowa
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#176 of 858
79th 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.

29thIncome percentile
97thSafety percentile

29th percentile nationally for median household income · 97th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Sumner's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Sumner'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 70 Avg. percentile National median
Sumner'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 Sumner's home value compares nationally

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

$111,900 Among the most affordable more affordable than 86% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Sumner $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 - Sumner, IA Sumner, IA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Sumner, 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 Sumner, IA median $56,174/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%
Sumner, 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 Sumner, IA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 26.1%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 7.9%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 56.8%

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

Population
2,159
Median Income
$56,174
Median Home Value
$111,900
Median Age
47.1
Poverty Rate
7.9%
Labor force participation
56.8%
Bachelor's Degree+
26.1%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
147.6
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
98.4
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
49.2
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.

Schools

Total Schools
2
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
2,020 residents2,025 residents2,030 residents2,035 residents2,040 residents 202020212022202320242025 2,028 residents 2,022 residents ▼ -0.3%
Sumner's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

📈 Building Boom
Total Permits (2024)
3
housing units authorized
Single-Family
3
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
1.4
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 1
2020 3
2021 1
2022 1
2023 2
2024 3

Permit volume increased 200% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
17.1 minutes
Drive Alone
85.8%
Carpool
1.9%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
6.2%
Work from Home
6.1%

Based on 988 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 Sumner sits in

Cost of Living Index
87.8
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$978/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
24.6 / 100
Very Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Iowa

La Porte City
2,170 people
Northwood
2,170 people
Columbus Junction
2,129 people
Lamoni
2,121 people
Denver
2,216 people
Colfax
2,089 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Sumner's 2,159 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Lake Placid, NY
2,159 people
New Market, VA
2,159 people
Bellevue, IL
2,158 people
Elkton, KY
2,158 people
McConnelsville, OH
2,158 people
Blacksburg, SC
2,158 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Sumner's $56,174 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Pottstown, PA
$56,174 median income
Albion, IL
$56,172 median income
De Pue, IL
$56,176 median income
Chambersburg, PA
$56,177 median income
Bentleyville, PA
$56,179 median income
Paragould, AR
$56,181 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Sumner, 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 Sumner, 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 1.4% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.7% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.0% Two or more races 2.7% 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 Sumner 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
Sumner (this city) 2,159 $56,174
La Porte City 2,170 $62,750
Northwood 2,170 $64,615
Columbus Junction 2,129 $76,518
Census ACS 5-year FIPS IA FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Sumner, IA?

What is the population of Sumner, IA? +

Sumner, IA counts 2,159 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

Median annual household income in Sumner runs $56,174, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Sumner? +

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

Sumner has a total crime rate of 147.6 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 Sumner, IA? +

A typical home in Sumner is worth $111,900, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

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