City · Iowa

Webster City, Iowa

Webster City, city, in Hamilton County, Iowa. Webster City had 7,815 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 0.1% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 7,825 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 7,769 (±24). GEOID 1983145.

Residents, July 2025 estimate

7,815

Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 7,825 · ACS 2020-2024: 7,769 ±24

Median household income

$63,430

±$13,544 (90% margin)
Iowa: $75,059

Median home value

$127,200

±$26,310 (90% margin)
Iowa: $208,000

Median gross rent

$907

±$61 (90% margin)
Iowa: $972

Where is Webster City and what county is it in?

Webster City is a city in Hamilton County, Iowa. It covers 9.2 square miles of land, 850 residents per square mile in 2020.

Webster City (marked with a dot) in Hamilton County, Iowa. Boundaries: Census Bureau 2024.

Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files

How many people live in Webster City, and is it growing?

The Census Bureau estimates that 7,815 people lived in Webster City on July 1, 2025, down 0.1% since 2020, while Iowa grew 1.5%. The 2020 Census counted 7,825 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 7,769 (±24).

  • July 2020→2021 −68 (7,744)
  • 2021→2022 +35 (7,779)
  • 2022→2023 +24 (7,803)
  • 2023→2024 +32 (7,835)
  • 2024→2025 −20 (7,815)
ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (counts) with the change from 2015-2019
Measure Webster CityHamilton CountyIowa Change since 2015-2019
Total population 7,769 ±24 14,886 3,210,507 no clear change
Households 3,250 ±174 6,434 1,315,707 no clear change
Average household size 2.35 ±0.12 2.28 2.36 no clear change
Housing units 3,552 ±186 7,040 1,437,699 −377

Webster City's population since 2000

From 8,176 in 2000 to 7,815 in 2025: down 4.4%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Webster City 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.

  • 2000 Census 8,176
  • 2005 (estimate) 8,246
  • 2010 Census 8,070
  • 2015 (estimate) 7,835
  • 2020 Census 7,825
  • 2025 (estimate) 7,815

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 Webster City?

The median resident of Webster City is 37.6 years old; 26.8% are under 18 and 18.8% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 76.5%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 17.0%. 10.0% of residents were born outside the United States.

Age, origin, education and moves, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Race groups are non-Hispanic; Hispanic includes any race.
Measure Webster CityHamilton CountyIowa Change since 2015-2019
Median age 37.6 ±2.8 41.7 38.6 −4.4
Under 18 years 26.8% ±1.9 pts 23.8% 22.9% –
65 years and over 18.8% ±2.0 pts 21.2% 18.1% –
Male 51.6% ±2.0 pts 51.5% 50.2% –
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 17.0% ±1.2 pts 10.1% 7.3% +7.0 pts
White alone, not Hispanic 76.5% ±2.5 pts 83.8% 82.3% −5.0 pts
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic 1.2% ±0.6 pts 1.0% 3.8% −1.3 pts
Asian alone, not Hispanic 3.7% ±1.9 pts 2.3% 2.5% no clear change
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic 0.0% ±0.3 pts 0.2% 0.2% –
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic 0.3% ±0.5 pts 0.1% 0.2% –
Two or more races, not Hispanic 1.3% ±0.7 pts 2.2% 3.5% –
Some other race alone, not Hispanic 0.2% ±0.3 pts 0.4% 0.3% –
Born outside the United States 10.0% ±3.4 pts 6.4% 5.9% no clear change
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) 17.9% ±3.4 pts 10.7% 9.1% –
Civilian veterans (age 18+) 8.8% ±3.1 pts 7.4% 6.5% –
With a disability 15.3% ±2.9 pts 13.4% 12.6% –
No health insurance coverage 6.3% ±2.7 pts 5.7% 5.0% +3.2 pts
High school graduate or higher (age 25+) 92.8% ±2.9 pts 94.4% 93.3% –
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) 23.2% ±5.0 pts 22.8% 31.4% no clear change
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) 7.1% ±2.8 pts 6.7% 10.5% –
Lived in the same house a year earlier 90.4% ±3.1 pts 92.3% 87.1% –
Moved from another state in the past year 1.5% ±1.3 pts 1.1% 2.2% –

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 Webster City earn?

Half of Webster City's 3,250 households earn less than $63,430 a year (±$13,544), against $72,432 in Hamilton County and $75,059 in Iowa. In 2015-2019 it was $68,237 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 8.6% of residents live below the poverty line.

Income and poverty in 2024 dollars, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates; 2015-2019 dollars adjusted with the R-CPI-U-RS
Measure Webster CityHamilton CountyIowa Change since 2015-2019
Median household income $63,430 ±$13,544 $72,432 $75,059 no clear change
Mean household income $84,612 ±$9,103 $92,073 $98,187 –
Per capita income $35,513 ±$3,186 $40,191 $40,877 no clear change
People below the poverty line 8.6% ±3.6 pts 7.4% 11.1% no clear change
Children under 18 below the poverty line 6.1% ±5.5 pts 5.4% 12.9% –
Households receiving SNAP 10.6% ±3.3 pts 8.0% 8.8% –
Households with a computer 86.1% ±5.0 pts 90.1% 94.7% –
Households with a broadband subscription 78.1% ±4.9 pts 84.7% 88.9% –

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 Webster City?

Owners occupy 64.3% of Webster City's occupied homes and renters 35.7%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $127,200 by its owner (±$26,310). The median renter pays $907 a month including utilities, and 21.7% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Home values are owners' own estimates.
Measure Webster CityHamilton CountyIowa Change since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied) $127,200 ±$26,310 $156,400 $208,000 no clear change
Median gross rent $907 ±$61 $877 $972 no clear change
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent 21.7% ±11.1 pts 23.1% 35.2% no clear change
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage $1,169 ±$136 $1,345 $1,533 –
Owner-occupied homes 64.3% ±6.1 pts 73.4% 71.7% no clear change
Renter-occupied homes 35.7% ±6.1 pts 26.6% 28.3% –
Housing units 3,552 ±186 7,040 1,437,699 −377
Homeowner vacancy rate 0.0% ±1.2 pts 0.4% 0.8% –
Rental vacancy rate 9.7% ±8.9 pts 7.1% 5.7% –
Single-family detached homes 70.3% ±5.2 pts 80.7% 72.2% –
Mobile homes 0.6% ±1.2 pts 1.6% 3.2% –
Built 2020 or later 1.1% ±1.4 pts 0.7% 1.7% –
Built 2010 to 2019 1.0% ±1.3 pts 1.7% 9.2% –
Built 1939 or earlier 38.4% ±6.0 pts 41.3% 23.5% –
Households with no vehicle 7.3% ±3.3 pts 4.7% 5.4% –

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 Webster City building?

Builders took permits for 10 new housing units in Webster City in 2025 (5 in single-family houses), 1.3 per 1,000 residents against 4.2 across Iowa.

  • 2019 14 units
  • 2020 6 units
  • 2021 33 units
  • 2022 7 units
  • 2023 14 units
  • 2024 7 units
  • 2025 10 units

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 Webster City work and get to work?

88.3% of Webster City's workers drive alone and 3.5% work from home. The average trip to work takes 18.3 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 7.0%.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (workers 16 and over)
Measure Webster CityHamilton CountyIowa Change since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+) 67.0% ±4.1 pts 65.9% 66.4% –
Unemployment rate 7.0% ±2.1 pts 4.8% 3.6% +4.9 pts
Drove alone to work 88.3% ±4.9 pts 84.0% 76.0% –
Carpooled 6.9% ±4.5 pts 6.6% 7.8% –
Public transportation 0.2% ±0.3 pts 0.1% 0.7% –
Walked 1.0% ±1.3 pts 2.6% 2.9% –
Worked from home 3.5% ±2.2 pts 6.1% 11.3% no clear change
Mean travel time to work 18.3 min ±2.7 21.4 min 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 Webster City?

2 census tracts lie mostly in Webster City, and 1 more reaches into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $62,907 (Tract 9604) to $78,667 (Tract 9603).

Census tracts in Webster City, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
TractResidents, 2020-2024Median household incomeMedian home valueShare of tract in Webster City
Tract 9604Hamilton County4,600 $62,907 $119,40088%
Tract 9603Hamilton County3,416 $78,667 $148,90093%
Tract 9601Hamilton County1,622 $72,538 $166,4001%

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 Webster City) · Census block assignment files

How does Webster City compare with other places in Iowa?

By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Webster City is the 3,801st-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 51st-most populous of 939 in Iowa.

Webster City ranks 188th of 279 places in Iowa with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.

Webster City's rank in Iowa (1 = highest): by population among the state's incorporated places with a 2025 estimate; by the other measures among places of 1,000+ residents with a reliable estimate
MeasureRankOf
Population, July 2025 estimate51st939
Growth 2020-2025 (PEP)120th275
Residents per square mile199th279
Median household income188th279
Per capita income173rd279
Median home value216th279
Median gross rent97th266
Poverty rate153rd232
Bachelor's degree or higher154th279
Median age187th279
Owner-occupied share239th279
Work from home218th221
Travel time to work183rd279

Webster City's figures with every place in Iowa (CSV)

Every place in Iowa, sortable · Compare Webster City 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 Webster City?

12 of the 57 figures for Webster City 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 Webster City 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 Webster City.