City profile · Iowa · Census ACS 2023

Vinton, IA

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

4,948
Residents
$65,488
Median income
$146,400
Median home
$956
Median rent (state)

Vinton - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Vinton lands in the 44th percentile for household income and the 88th percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

44th
percentile, household income
26th
percentile, home value
11th
percentile, median rent
88th
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: Vinton, IA

4,948 people live in Vinton, Iowa - a small town by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Vinton households earn a median of $65,488 annually, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 3.7%. Typical homes in Vinton are valued around $146,400, and the median resident age is 44.4 years. Educational attainment runs 28.2% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 59.4% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 10 residential building permits were authorized in Vinton (Building Boom), up 900% from five years earlier, per Census BPS data. Vinton reports a comparatively low crime rate: the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program logs 423.4 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). The annual average temperature per NOAA climate normals runs 46.0°F with 37.9 inches of precipitation per year and 33.6 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 $956 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 28.8 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very Low).

Population

4,948 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Iowa

Median Household Income

$65,488 /yr

Poverty 3.7%

Cost of Living Index (state)

87.8 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Iowa average

How does Vinton compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 44% higher than other cities
Home value 26% pricier than other cities
Median rent 11% pricier than other cities
Safety 88% 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, Vinton ranks #38 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 Vinton against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Iowa only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Iowa-relative analysis

Bachelor's Degree or Higher places Vinton toward the top of Iowa's cities

Among the 858 Iowa cities PlainCities tracks with reported bachelor's degree or higher data, Vinton ranks #146 - the 83rd percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Vinton only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#428 of 845
49th percentile in Iowa
Median Gross Rent
#369 of 858
54th percentile in Iowa
Median Home Value
#287 of 849
66th percentile in Iowa
Poverty Rate
#572 of 858
33rd percentile in Iowa
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#146 of 858
83rd 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.

44thIncome percentile
88thSafety percentile

44th percentile nationally for median household income · 88th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Vinton's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Vinton'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 71 Avg. percentile National median
Vinton'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 Vinton's home value compares nationally

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

$146,400 Among the most affordable more affordable than 74% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Vinton $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 - Vinton, IA Vinton, IA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Vinton, 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 Vinton, IA median $65,488/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%
Vinton, 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 Vinton, IA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 28.2%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 3.7%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 59.4%

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

Population
4,948
Median Income
$65,488
Median Home Value
$146,400
Median Age
44.4
Poverty Rate
3.7%
Labor force participation
59.4%
Bachelor's Degree+
28.2%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
423.4
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
60.5
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
362.9
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.

Climate

Avg Temperature
46.0°F
Annual Precipitation
37.9"
Annual Snowfall
33.6"

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 →
4,900 residents4,950 residents5,000 residents5,050 residents 202020212022202320242025 4,925 residents 5,004 residents ▲ +1.6%
Vinton's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

📈 Building Boom
Total Permits (2024)
10
housing units authorized
Single-Family
10
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
2
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 1
2020 1
2021 10
2022 7
2023 9
2024 10

Permit volume increased 900% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
76.5%
Carpool
13.0%
Public Transit
0.9%
Walk
3.4%
Work from Home
3.8%
Other
2.4%

Based on 2,274 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 Vinton sits in

Cost of Living Index
87.8
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$956/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
28.8 / 100
Very Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Iowa

Shenandoah
4,913 people
Harlan
4,896 people
Iowa Falls
5,062 people
Sergeant Bluff
5,090 people
Glenwood
5,118 people
Humboldt
4,761 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Vinton's 4,948 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Springville, AL
4,949 people
Hamilton, MT
4,949 people
Theodore, AL
4,950 people
Kanab, UT
4,950 people
Willits, CA
4,945 people
West Sayville, NY
4,944 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Vinton's $65,488 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

LeChee, AZ
$65,486 median income
Walla Walla, WA
$65,493 median income
Pelican Rapids, MN
$65,482 median income
Withee, WI
$65,481 median income
Schofield, WI
$65,478 median income
Canton, SD
$65,500 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Vinton, 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 Vinton, IA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 94.3% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 2.5% White 94.3% Black or African American 1.1% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.2% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 1.6% Two or more races 2.8% 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 Vinton 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
Vinton (this city) 4,948 $65,488
Shenandoah 4,913 $52,469
Harlan 4,896 $54,923
Iowa Falls 5,062 $53,051
Census ACS 5-year FIPS IA FBI UCR NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Vinton, IA?

What is the population of Vinton, IA? +

Vinton, IA has a population of 4,948 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

The median household income in Vinton is $65,488 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Vinton? +

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

Vinton has a total crime rate of 423.4 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 Vinton, IA? +

The median home value in Vinton is $146,400, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Vinton? +

The average annual temperature in Vinton runs 46.0°F, 37.9 inches of precipitation, and 33.6 inches of snowfall per year. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, 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.