City · Iowa
Traer, Iowa
Traer, city, in Tama County, Iowa. Traer had 1,555 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 1.6% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 1,583 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 1,519 (±182). GEOID 1978735.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
1,555
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 1,583 · ACS 2020-2024: 1,519 ±182
Median household income
$76,406
±$11,772 (90% margin)
Iowa: $75,059
Median home value
$151,900
±$23,576 (90% margin)
Iowa: $208,000
Median gross rent
$971
±$55 (90% margin)
Iowa: $972
Where is Traer and what county is it in?
Traer is a city in Tama County, Iowa. It covers 1.3 square miles of land, 1,228 residents per square mile in 2020.
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Traer, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 1,555 people lived in Traer on July 1, 2025, down 1.6% since 2020, while Iowa grew 1.5%. The 2020 Census counted 1,583 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 1,519 (±182).
| Measure | Traer | Tama County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 1,519 ±182 | 16,868 | no clear change |
| Households | 681 ±76 | 6,720 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.15 ±0.17 | 2.46 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 731 ±80 | 7,595 | no clear change |
Traer's population since 2000
From 1,594 in 2000 to 1,555 in 2025: down 2.4%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Traer as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Traer?
The median resident of Traer is 46.5 years old; 17.3% are under 18 and 21.8% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 96.1%, then non-Hispanic residents of two or more races at 2.7%.
| Measure | Traer | Tama County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.5 ±4.7 | 41.5 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 17.3% ±3.4 pts | 23.7% | – |
| 65 years and over | 21.8% ±3.2 pts | 21.0% | – |
| Male | 52.9% ±3.5 pts | 50.3% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 1.2% ±1.3 pts | 11.7% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 96.1% ±2.4 pts | 78.4% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±1.6 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±1.6 pts | 0.7% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±1.6 pts | 5.3% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±1.6 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 2.7% ±1.8 pts | 2.9% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±1.6 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 0.7% ±0.5 pts | 4.1% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 0.9% ±1.2 pts | 11.2% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 7.8% ±2.6 pts | 7.9% | – |
| With a disability | 12.2% ±3.0 pts | 11.7% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 5.6% ±3.0 pts | 6.2% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 94.8% ±2.2 pts | 91.5% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 32.3% ±5.6 pts | 20.5% | +8.1 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 7.3% ±2.4 pts | 5.9% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 88.1% ±5.3 pts | 90.9% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 0.1% ±0.2 pts | 1.5% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Traer earn?
Half of Traer's 681 households earn less than $76,406 a year (±$11,772), against $70,781 in Tama County and $75,059 in Iowa. In 2015-2019 it was $74,670 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 11.2% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Traer | Tama County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $76,406 ±$11,772 | $70,781 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $86,549 ±$12,514 | $83,931 | – |
| Per capita income | $39,266 ±$5,722 | $34,186 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 11.2% ±4.2 pts | 14.8% | +6.4 pts |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 14.7% ±10.5 pts | 23.2% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 6.0% ±3.2 pts | 9.6% | – |
| Households with a computer | 93.8% ±3.2 pts | 94.9% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 84.3% ±5.4 pts | 87.5% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Traer?
Owners occupy 76.7% of Traer's occupied homes and renters 23.3%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $151,900 by its owner (±$23,576). The median renter pays $971 a month including utilities, and 41.1% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Traer | Tama County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $151,900 ±$23,576 | $148,600 | no clear change |
| Median gross rent | $971 ±$55 | $872 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 41.1% ±13.3 pts | 33.4% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,152 ±$107 | $1,324 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 76.7% ±5.5 pts | 76.0% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 23.3% ±5.5 pts | 24.0% | – |
| Housing units | 731 ±80 | 7,595 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.4% ±0.7 pts | 1.2% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 0.0% ±14.5 pts | 7.2% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 85.5% ±4.2 pts | 88.2% | – |
| Mobile homes | 1.6% ±2.1 pts | 3.2% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.0% ±3.4 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 2.2% ±1.6 pts | 2.7% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 38.4% ±7.2 pts | 38.1% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 4.0% ±2.8 pts | 2.5% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Traer building?
Builders took permits for 0 new housing units in Traer in 2025 (0 in single-family houses), 0.0 per 1,000 residents against 4.2 across Iowa.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Traer work and get to work?
80.4% of Traer's workers drive alone and 6.8% work from home. The average trip to work takes 21.3 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 3.5%.
| Measure | Traer | Tama County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 66.4% ±4.8 pts | 61.9% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 3.5% ±2.2 pts | 3.8% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 80.4% ±5.4 pts | 78.9% | – |
| Carpooled | 8.6% ±3.8 pts | 10.2% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±3.0 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Walked | 3.0% ±2.0 pts | 1.6% | – |
| Worked from home | 6.8% ±3.4 pts | 8.7% | +4.4 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 21.3 min ±2.7 | 22.7 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Traer?
No census tract lies mostly in Traer; 2 tracts reach into it (2020 census blocks).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 2902Tama County | 2,616 | $75,982 |
| Tract 2901Tama County | 3,021 | $76,000 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Traer) · Census block assignment files
How does Traer compare with other places in Iowa?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Traer is the 8,603rd-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 201st-most populous of 939 in Iowa.
Traer ranks 105th of 279 places in Iowa with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 201st | 939 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 174th | 275 |
| Residents per square mile | 96th | 279 |
| Median household income | 105th | 279 |
| Per capita income | 104th | 279 |
| Median home value | 177th | 279 |
| Median gross rent | 59th | 266 |
| Poverty rate | 104th | 232 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 71st | 279 |
| Median age | 34th | 279 |
| Owner-occupied share | 112th | 279 |
| Work from home | 155th | 221 |
| Travel time to work | 117th | 279 |
Traer's figures with every place in Iowa (CSV)
Every place in Iowa, sortable · Compare Traer with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Traer?
19 of the 57 figures for Traer on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Traer are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Traer.