City profile · Iowa · Census ACS 2023

Urbandale, IA

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

46,026
Residents
$113,086
Median income
$318,800
Median home
$1,318
Median rent (state)

Urbandale - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Urbandale lands in the 84th percentile for household income and the 75th percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

84th
percentile, household income
68th
percentile, home value
47th
percentile, median rent
75th
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: Urbandale, IA

Urbandale is a small city in Iowa, home to 46,026 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. The typical household in Urbandale brings in $113,086 a year, placing it in the top quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 4.5%. Typical homes in Urbandale are valued around $318,800, and the median resident age is 38.7 years. 51.4% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 68.7% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 384 residential building permits were authorized in Urbandale (Building Boom), up 195% from five years earlier, per Census BPS data. Urbandale reports a comparatively low crime rate: the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program logs 723.7 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). HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $1,318 per month. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Iowa run around $212, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. Workers in Urbandale report an average commute of 15.6 minutes, with 74.0% driving alone and 15.9% working from home. Natural-hazard exposure scores 92.0 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Very High).

Population

46,026 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Iowa

Median Household Income

$113,086 /yr

Poverty 4.5%

Cost of Living Index (state)

87.8 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Iowa average

How does Urbandale compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 84% higher than other cities
Home value 68% pricier than other cities
Median rent 47% pricier than other cities
Safety 75% 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, Urbandale ranks #60 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 Urbandale against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Iowa only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Iowa-relative analysis

Median Home Value is Urbandale's strongest outlier among Iowa cities

Among the 849 Iowa cities PlainCities tracks with reported median home value data, Urbandale ranks #24 - the 97th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Urbandale only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#29 of 845
97th percentile in Iowa
Median Gross Rent
#34 of 858
90th percentile in Iowa
Median Home Value
#24 of 849
97th percentile in Iowa
Poverty Rate
#513 of 858
39th percentile in Iowa
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#28 of 858
97th 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.

84thIncome percentile
75thSafety percentile

84th percentile nationally for median household income · 75th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Urbandale's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Urbandale'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 67 Avg. percentile National median
Urbandale'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 Urbandale's home value compares nationally

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

$318,800 32nd percentile more affordable than 32% 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%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Urbandale $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 - Urbandale, IA Urbandale, IA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Urbandale, 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 Urbandale, IA median $113,086/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%
Urbandale, 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 Urbandale, IA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 51.4%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 4.5%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 68.7%

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

Population
46,026
Median Income
$113,086
Median Home Value
$318,800
Median Age
38.7
Poverty Rate
4.5%
Labor force participation
68.7%
Bachelor's Degree+
51.4%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
723.7
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
89.1
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
634.6
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
9
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
45,000 residents46,000 residents47,000 residents48,000 residents49,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 45,588 residents 48,570 residents ▲ +6.5%
Urbandale's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

📈 Building Boom
Total Permits (2024)
384
housing units authorized
Single-Family
338
detached homes
Multifamily
46
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
8.3
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 130
2020 325
2021 497
2022 216
2023 291
2024 384

Permit volume increased 195% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
15.6 minutes
Drive Alone
74.0%
Carpool
7.2%
Public Transit
0.4%
Walk
0.6%
Work from Home
15.9%
Other
1.9%

Based on 23,935 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 Urbandale sits in

Cost of Living Index
87.8
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,318/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
92.0 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Iowa

Marion
41,690 people
Cedar Falls
40,662 people
Bettendorf
39,297 people
Dubuque
59,271 people
Council Bluffs
62,564 people
Marshalltown
27,491 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Urbandale's 46,026 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Strongsville, OH
46,022 people
Arlington, MA
46,015 people
Charlottesville, VA
45,863 people
Huntington, WV
46,189 people
Potomac, MD
46,230 people
Pahrump, NV
45,811 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Urbandale's $113,086 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

West Belmar, NJ
$113,083 median income
Berkley, MI
$113,103 median income
Torrance, CA
$113,105 median income
Wekiwa Springs, FL
$113,067 median income
Londonderry, NH
$113,109 median income
Trinity, FL
$113,125 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Urbandale, 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 Urbandale, IA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 83.9% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 6.4% White 83.9% Black or African American 5.5% Asian 5.4% American Indian 0.1% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 1.2% 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 Urbandale 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
Urbandale (this city) 46,026 $113,086
Marion 41,690 $87,105
Cedar Falls 40,662 $74,165
Bettendorf 39,297 $102,917
Census ACS 5-year FIPS IA FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Urbandale, IA?

What is the population of Urbandale, IA? +

Urbandale, IA has a population of 46,026 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

Median annual household income in Urbandale runs $113,086, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Urbandale? +

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

Urbandale has a total crime rate of 723.7 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 Urbandale, IA? +

Urbandale's median home value sits at $318,800, 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.