City profile · Iowa · Census ACS 2023

Wayland, IA

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

1,140
Residents
$67,000
Median income
$122,200
Median home
$962
Median rent (state)

Wayland - the verdict

Nationally, Wayland sits in the 46th percentile for household income among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS.

46th
percentile, household income
18th
percentile, home value
12th
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: Wayland, IA

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 1,140 residents in Wayland, a small town within Iowa. The typical household in Wayland brings in $67,000 a year, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 2.2%. Home values in Wayland run a median of $122,200, and the median resident age is 45.4 years. Educational attainment runs 24.1% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 60.2% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 1 residential building permits were authorized in Wayland (Stable), up 0% from five years earlier, per Census BPS data.

Living costs in Iowa run below the national norm: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, Iowa scores 87.8 (Well Below Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $962 monthly. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Iowa run around $212, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. Natural-hazard exposure scores 44.2 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Low).

Population

1,140 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Iowa

Median Household Income

$67,000 /yr

Poverty 2.2%

Cost of Living Index (state)

87.8 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Iowa average

How does Wayland compare to other US cities?

Where Wayland sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 46% higher than other cities
Home value 18% pricier than other cities
Median rent 12% 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 Wayland against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Iowa only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Iowa-relative analysis

Poverty Rate places Wayland toward the bottom of Iowa's cities

Among the 858 Iowa cities PlainCities tracks with reported poverty rate data, Wayland ranks #670 - the 21st percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Wayland only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#390 of 845
54th percentile in Iowa
Median Gross Rent
#338 of 858
59th percentile in Iowa
Median Home Value
#400 of 849
53rd percentile in Iowa
Poverty Rate
#670 of 858
21st percentile in Iowa
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#215 of 858
74th 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.

46thIncome percentile

46th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Wayland's home value compares nationally

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

$122,200 Among the most affordable more affordable than 82% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $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. Wayland $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 - Wayland, IA Wayland, IA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Wayland, 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 Wayland, IA median $67,000/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%
Wayland, 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 Wayland, IA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 24.1%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 2.2%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 60.2%

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

Population
1,140
Median Income
$67,000
Median Home Value
$122,200
Median Age
45.4
Poverty Rate
2.2%
Labor force participation
60.2%
Bachelor's Degree+
24.1%

Schools

Total Schools
1
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
920 residents930 residents940 residents950 residents960 residents970 residents 202020212022202320242025 960 residents 932 residents ▼ -2.9%
Wayland's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

🏗️ Stable
Total Permits (2024)
1
housing units authorized
Single-Family
1
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
0.9
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 1
2020 4
2021 1
2022 4
2023 0
2024 1

Permit volume increased 0% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
83.4%
Carpool
6.3%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
1.3%
Work from Home
4.0%
Other
5.0%

Based on 555 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 Wayland sits in

Cost of Living Index
87.8
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$962/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
44.2 / 100
Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Iowa

New Sharon
1,147 people
Glidden
1,153 people
St. Ansgar
1,156 people
Lansing
1,111 people
Conrad
1,170 people
Fruitland
1,107 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Wayland's 1,140 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Underwood, IN
1,140 people
Oxford, NJ
1,140 people
Unadilla, NY
1,140 people
Adair, OR
1,140 people
Enhaut, PA
1,140 people
Cacao comunidad, PR
1,140 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Wayland's $67,000 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Hollandale, MN
$67,000 median income
Alexandria, PA
$67,000 median income
Cazenovia, WI
$67,000 median income
Sauk Rapids, MN
$67,004 median income
Stock Island, FL
$67,005 median income
Clover, SC
$66,992 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Wayland, 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 Wayland, IA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 88.6% 11.2% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 0.5% White 88.6% Black or African American 0.0% Asian 0.2% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.0% Two or more races 11.2% 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 Wayland 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
Wayland (this city) 1,140 $67,000
New Sharon 1,147 $60,000
Glidden 1,153 $73,393
St. Ansgar 1,156 $75,208
Census ACS 5-year FIPS IA NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Wayland, IA?

What is the population of Wayland, IA? +

1,140 people live in Wayland, IA according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

Wayland households earn a median of $67,000 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Wayland? +

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

The median home value in Wayland is $122,200, 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.