City profile · Iowa · Census ACS 2023

Swea City, IA

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

612
Residents
$50,625
Median income
$48,800
Median home
$919
Median rent (state)

Swea City - the verdict

Nationally, Swea City sits in the 20th percentile for household income among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS.

20th
percentile, household income
0th
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: Swea City, IA

612 people live in Swea City, Iowa - a small town by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Swea City households earn a median of $50,625 annually, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 21.0%. Typical homes in Swea City are valued around $48,800, and the median resident age is 41.1 years. About 21.6% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 60.0% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 0 residential building permits were authorized in Swea City (No Permits), per Census BPS data. NOAA puts Swea City's yearly average temperature at 43.8°F with 32.9 inches of precipitation per year and 39.7 inches of snowfall.

Living costs in Iowa run below the national norm: the state registers 87.8 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Well Below Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. 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). On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 32.3 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very Low).

Population

612 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Iowa

Median Household Income

$50,625 /yr

Poverty 21.0%

Cost of Living Index (state)

87.8 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Iowa average

How does Swea City compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 20% higher than other cities
Home value 0% 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 Swea City 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 Swea City near the bottom of Iowa's cities

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

Median Household Income
#737 of 845
13th percentile in Iowa
Median Gross Rent
#450 of 858
0th percentile in Iowa
Median Home Value
#821 of 849
3rd percentile in Iowa
Poverty Rate
#39 of 858
95th percentile in Iowa
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#278 of 858
67th 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.

20thIncome percentile

20th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Swea City's home value compares nationally

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

$48,800 Among the most affordable more affordable than 100% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). This entry sits in this band. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $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. Swea City $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 - Swea City, IA Swea City, IA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Swea City, 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 Swea City, IA median $50,625/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%
Swea City, 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 Swea City, IA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 21.6%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 21.0%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 60.0%

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

Population
612
Median Income
$50,625
Median Home Value
$48,800
Median Age
41.1
Poverty Rate
21.0%
Labor force participation
60.0%
Bachelor's Degree+
21.6%

Climate

Avg Temperature
43.8°F
Annual Precipitation
32.9"
Annual Snowfall
39.7"

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 →
530 residents540 residents550 residents560 residents570 residents 202020212022202320242025 564 residents 541 residents ▼ -4.1%
Swea City's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

Total Permits (2024)
0
housing units authorized
Single-Family
0
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 0
2020 0
2021 0
2022 0
2023 0
2024 0

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
74.1%
Carpool
4.5%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
8.4%
Work from Home
5.6%
Other
7.4%

Based on 286 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 Swea City 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
32.3 / 100
Very Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Iowa

Gilman
613 people
Ireton
613 people
Kellogg
611 people
Grand Junction
615 people
Goldfield
616 people
Albion
617 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Swea City's 612 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Wainwright, AK
612 people
Pioneer, FL
612 people
Potomac, IL
612 people
St. Libory, IL
612 people
West City, IL
612 people
Knightsville, IN
612 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Swea City's $50,625 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Thomaston, AL
$50,625 median income
Rhine, GA
$50,625 median income
Cissna Park, IL
$50,625 median income
Perry, IL
$50,625 median income
Fontana, KS
$50,625 median income
Ida, LA
$50,625 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Swea City, 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 Swea City, IA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 88.6% 6.0% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 2.9% White 88.6% Black or African American 0.5% Asian 0.0% American Indian 1.8% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 6.0% Two or more races 3.1% 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 Swea City 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
Swea City (this city) 612 $50,625
Gilman 613 $96,974
Ireton 613 $62,917
Kellogg 611 $37,500
Census ACS 5-year FIPS IA NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Swea City, IA?

What is the population of Swea City, IA? +

The population of Swea City, IA stands at 612 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Swea City, IA? +

Swea City households earn a median of $50,625 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Swea City? +

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

The median home value in Swea City is $48,800, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Swea City? +

The average annual temperature in Swea City runs 43.8°F, 32.9 inches of precipitation, and 39.7 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.