City · Iowa
Underwood, Iowa
Underwood, city, in Pottawattamie County, Iowa. Underwood had 955 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 0.7% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 954 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 898 (±222). GEOID 1979500.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
955
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 954 · ACS 2020-2024: 898 ±222
Median household income
$105,341
±$16,675 (90% margin)
Iowa: $75,059
Median home value
$253,500
±$33,944 (90% margin)
Iowa: $208,000
Median gross rent
$1,063
±$168 (90% margin)
Iowa: $972
Where is Underwood and what county is it in?
Underwood is a city in Pottawattamie County, Iowa. It covers 1.1 square miles of land, 876 residents per square mile in 2020.
Underwood is in the Omaha, NE-IA metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 8 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Underwood, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 955 people lived in Underwood on July 1, 2025, up 0.7% since 2020, slower than Iowa (+1.5%). The 2020 Census counted 954 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 898 (±222).
| Measure | Underwood | Pottawattamie County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 898 ±222 | 93,424 | no clear change |
| Households | 315 ±61 | 37,642 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.85 ±0.47 | 2.41 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 332 ±61 | 40,083 | no clear change |
Underwood's population since 2000
From 688 in 2000 to 955 in 2025: up 38.8%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Underwood 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 Underwood?
The median resident of Underwood is 33.5 years old; 34.3% are under 18 and 10.9% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 94.3%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 3.5%.
| Measure | Underwood | Pottawattamie County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 33.5 ±7.0 | 40.1 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 34.3% ±7.0 pts | 22.9% | – |
| 65 years and over | 10.9% ±4.8 pts | 18.7% | – |
| Male | 44.9% ±4.7 pts | 49.5% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 3.5% ±3.2 pts | 9.1% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 94.3% ±3.8 pts | 84.5% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±2.7 pts | 1.8% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 1.3% ±2.0 pts | 0.9% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.3% ±0.6 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±2.7 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 0.6% ±1.0 pts | 3.0% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±2.7 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 1.9% ±2.1 pts | 4.0% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 1.7% ±2.3 pts | 6.9% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 5.6% ±2.6 pts | 8.4% | – |
| With a disability | 12.0% ±5.3 pts | 15.7% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 2.2% ±2.4 pts | 5.0% | – |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 94.0% ±4.4 pts | 90.7% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 35.1% ±7.3 pts | 23.6% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 14.6% ±5.3 pts | 7.9% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 95.2% ±3.7 pts | 89.8% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 0.7% ±0.8 pts | 2.6% | – |
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 Underwood earn?
Half of Underwood's 315 households earn less than $105,341 a year (±$16,675), against $73,602 in Pottawattamie County and $75,059 in Iowa. In 2015-2019 it was $99,994 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart.
| Measure | Underwood | Pottawattamie County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $105,341 ±$16,675 | $73,602 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $115,335 ±$18,016 | $91,780 | – |
| Per capita income | $41,158 ±$5,447 | $37,477 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 3.3% ±2.7 pts | 12.1% | – |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 3.6% ±4.5 pts | 17.2% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 2.2% ±2.2 pts | 9.8% | – |
| Households with a computer | 98.7% ±1.6 pts | 93.4% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 93.0% ±6.5 pts | 86.2% | – |
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 Underwood?
Owners occupy 83.5% of Underwood's occupied homes and renters 16.5%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $253,500 by its owner (±$33,944). The median renter pays $1,063 a month including utilities.
| Measure | Underwood | Pottawattamie County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $253,500 ±$33,944 | $195,700 | +$55,604 |
| Median gross rent | $1,063 ±$168 | $1,018 | +$202 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 29.2% ±24.0 pts | 33.6% | – |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,755 ±$175 | $1,495 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 83.5% ±6.9 pts | 69.9% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 16.5% ±6.9 pts | 30.1% | – |
| Housing units | 332 ±61 | 40,083 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0% ±9.0 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 0.0% ±35.8 pts | 1.9% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 90.1% ±5.4 pts | 75.9% | – |
| Mobile homes | 0.0% ±7.2 pts | 3.5% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 1.2% ±1.7 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 3.0% ±2.4 pts | 5.6% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 14.5% ±9.6 pts | 25.8% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 0.0% ±7.6 pts | 6.3% | – |
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 Underwood building?
Builders took permits for 2 new housing units in Underwood in 2025 (2 in single-family houses), 2.1 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 Underwood work and get to work?
76.5% of Underwood's workers drive alone and 12.4% work from home. The average trip to work takes 25.8 minutes.
| Measure | Underwood | Pottawattamie County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 76.9% ±6.8 pts | 63.4% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 0.0% ±5.1 pts | 3.8% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 76.5% ±7.1 pts | 79.8% | – |
| Carpooled | 6.3% ±3.7 pts | 6.7% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±5.1 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Walked | 4.2% ±3.2 pts | 1.8% | – |
| Worked from home | 12.4% ±6.0 pts | 9.8% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 25.8 min ±4.2 | 19.8 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 Underwood?
No census tract lies mostly in Underwood; 1 tract reaches into it (2020 census blocks).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 216.03Pottawattamie County | 2,246 | $103,375 |
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 Underwood) · Census block assignment files
How does Underwood compare with other places in Iowa?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Underwood is the 10,468th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 287th-most populous of 939 in Iowa.
Underwood is not ranked by income or the other survey measures: those rankings include places of 1,000 or more residents (2020 Census) with a reliable estimate.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 287th | 939 |
Underwood's figures with every place in Iowa (CSV)
Every place in Iowa, sortable · Compare Underwood 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 Underwood?
25 of the 57 figures for Underwood 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 Underwood 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 Underwood.