City profile · Iowa · Census ACS 2023

Underwood, IA

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

977
Residents
$90,556
Median income
$227,400
Median home
$1,368
Median rent (state)

Underwood - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Underwood places in the 71st percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

71st
percentile, household income
50th
percentile, home value
53rd
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: Underwood, IA

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 977 residents in Underwood, a small town within Iowa. Median household income here is $90,556 per year, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 3.3%. Underwood's housing stock carries a median value of $227,400, and the median resident age is 29.5 years. Educational attainment runs 32.6% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 77.1% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 3 residential building permits were authorized in Underwood (Slowing), down 25% from five years earlier, per Census BPS data.

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. HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $1,368 per month. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Iowa run around $212, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 80.4 out of 100 (High).

Population

977 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Iowa

Median Household Income

$90,556 /yr

Poverty 3.3%

Cost of Living Index (state)

87.8 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Iowa average

How does Underwood compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 71% higher than other cities
Home value 50% pricier than other cities
Median rent 53% 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 Underwood 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 is Underwood's strongest outlier among Iowa cities

Among the 858 Iowa cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Underwood ranks #1 - the 96th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Underwood only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#93 of 845
89th percentile in Iowa
Median Gross Rent
#1 of 858
96th percentile in Iowa
Median Home Value
#92 of 849
89th percentile in Iowa
Poverty Rate
#597 of 858
30th percentile in Iowa
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#97 of 858
88th 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.

71stIncome percentile

71st percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Underwood's home value compares nationally

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

$227,400 Among the most affordable more affordable than 50% 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%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Underwood $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 - Underwood, IA Underwood, IA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Underwood, 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 Underwood, IA median $90,556/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%
Underwood, 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 Underwood, IA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 32.6%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 3.3%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 77.1%

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

Population
977
Median Income
$90,556
Median Home Value
$227,400
Median Age
29.5
Poverty Rate
3.3%
Labor force participation
77.1%
Bachelor's Degree+
32.6%

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 →
945 residents950 residents955 residents960 residents965 residents970 residents 202020212022202320242025 950 residents 955 residents ▲ +0.5%
Underwood's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

🏗️ Slowing
Total Permits (2024)
3
housing units authorized
Single-Family
3
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
3.1
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 4
2020 4
2021 3
2022 2
2023 5
2024 3

Permit volume decreased 25% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
79.5%
Carpool
5.3%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
4.9%
Work from Home
9.6%
Other
0.7%

Based on 531 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 Underwood sits in

Cost of Living Index
87.8
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,368/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
80.4 / 100
High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Iowa

Calmar
980 people
Elk Run Heights
968 people
Danville
966 people
Primghar
965 people
Afton
991 people
Mapleton
997 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Underwood's 977 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Ola, AR
977 people
Hot Sulphur Springs, CO
977 people
Welcome, MN
977 people
Tilden, NE
977 people
Liverpool, PA
977 people
Sugar Notch, PA
977 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Underwood's $90,556 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Heyworth, IL
$90,556 median income
St. George, KS
$90,556 median income
Melody Hill, IN
$90,561 median income
Oak Valley, NJ
$90,563 median income
Woodlawn CDP (Prince George's County), MD
$90,565 median income
Melrose, OH
$90,565 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Underwood, 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 Underwood, IA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 94.7% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 7.3% White 94.7% Black or African American 0.0% Asian 1.0% American Indian 0.5% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.0% Two or more races 3.8% 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 Underwood 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
Underwood (this city) 977 $90,556
Calmar 980 $81,583
Elk Run Heights 968 $68,828
Danville 966 $82,917
Census ACS 5-year FIPS IA NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Underwood, IA?

What is the population of Underwood, IA? +

Underwood, IA counts 977 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

Underwood households earn a median of $90,556 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Underwood? +

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

The median home value in Underwood is $227,400, 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.