City · Iowa
Whittemore, Iowa
Whittemore, city, in Kossuth County, Iowa. Whittemore had 476 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 4.0% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 497 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 569 (±141). GEOID 1985260.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
476
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 497 · ACS 2020-2024: 569 ±141
Median household income
$78,702
±$6,913 (90% margin)
Iowa: $75,059
Median home value
$100,500
±$12,159 (90% margin)
Iowa: $208,000
Median gross rent
$625
±$324 (90% margin)
Iowa: $972
Where is Whittemore and what county is it in?
Whittemore is a city in Kossuth County, Iowa. It covers 0.4 square miles of land, 1,224 residents per square mile in 2020.
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Whittemore, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 476 people lived in Whittemore on July 1, 2025, down 4.0% since 2020, while Iowa grew 1.5%. The 2020 Census counted 497 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 569 (±141).
| Measure | Whittemore | Kossuth County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 569 ±141 | 14,516 | no clear change |
| Households | 271 ±63 | 6,543 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.10 ±0.34 | 2.17 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 309 ±63 | 7,205 | no clear change |
Whittemore's population since 2000
From 530 in 2000 to 476 in 2025: down 10.2%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Whittemore 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.
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 Whittemore?
The median resident of Whittemore is 40.8 years old; 24.1% are under 18 and 18.1% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 91.9%, then non-Hispanic residents of two or more races at 5.8%.
| Measure | Whittemore | Kossuth County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.8 ±8.3 | 44.2 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 24.1% ±9.0 pts | 22.0% | – |
| 65 years and over | 18.1% ±7.3 pts | 25.4% | – |
| Male | 47.6% ±7.5 pts | 50.7% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 2.3% ±3.0 pts | 4.5% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 91.9% ±5.3 pts | 91.7% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±4.3 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±4.3 pts | 0.4% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±4.3 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±4.3 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 5.8% ±4.9 pts | 2.4% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±4.3 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 1.8% ±2.0 pts | 3.4% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 3.7% ±3.5 pts | 4.9% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 10.2% ±5.3 pts | 6.9% | – |
| With a disability | 13.7% ±5.5 pts | 13.7% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 4.2% ±4.0 pts | 3.8% | – |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 95.8% ±3.6 pts | 95.1% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 20.2% ±6.7 pts | 22.8% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 0.7% ±1.3 pts | 5.8% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 91.4% ±10.7 pts | 88.3% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 0.9% ±1.3 pts | 2.1% | – |
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 Whittemore earn?
Half of Whittemore's 271 households earn less than $78,702 a year (±$6,913), against $67,697 in Kossuth County and $75,059 in Iowa. In 2015-2019 the median was $66,290 in 2024 dollars, so it rose by $12,412 after inflation.
| Measure | Whittemore | Kossuth County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $78,702 ±$6,913 | $67,697 | +$12,412 |
| Mean household income | $82,169 ±$10,485 | $86,441 | – |
| Per capita income | $38,639 ±$6,960 | $38,458 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 4.2% ±3.5 pts | 8.2% | – |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 2.9% ±4.6 pts | 10.6% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 1.5% ±2.0 pts | 4.6% | – |
| Households with a computer | 94.8% ±3.7 pts | 92.5% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 94.1% ±3.5 pts | 87.6% | – |
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 Whittemore?
Owners occupy 86.7% of Whittemore's occupied homes and renters 13.3%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $100,500 by its owner (±$12,159). The median renter pays $625 a month including utilities.
| Measure | Whittemore | Kossuth County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $100,500 ±$12,159 | $148,300 | +$21,736 |
| Median gross rent | $625 ±$324 | $859 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 25.0% ±28.2 pts | 27.2% | – |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,069 ±$213 | $1,248 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 86.7% ±7.6 pts | 78.6% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 13.3% ±7.6 pts | 21.4% | – |
| Housing units | 309 ±63 | 7,205 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.8% ±1.6 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 41.0% ±25.7 pts | 8.0% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 82.5% ±8.6 pts | 85.9% | – |
| Mobile homes | 0.0% ±7.8 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.0% ±7.8 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 0.6% ±0.9 pts | 5.7% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 33.7% ±9.4 pts | 30.9% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 2.2% ±2.2 pts | 6.1% | – |
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 Whittemore building?
Builders took permits for 0 new housing units in Whittemore in 2025 (0 in single-family houses), 0.0 per 1,000 residents against 4.2 across Iowa.
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 Whittemore work and get to work?
75.9% of Whittemore's workers drive alone. The average trip to work takes 14.7 minutes.
| Measure | Whittemore | Kossuth County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 75.1% ±7.7 pts | 62.7% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 0.0% ±7.2 pts | 1.9% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 75.9% ±12.6 pts | 79.7% | – |
| Carpooled | 15.4% ±11.8 pts | 7.9% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±7.2 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Walked | 4.5% ±4.2 pts | 3.8% | – |
| Worked from home | 4.2% ±3.6 pts | 7.2% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 14.7 min ±1.7 | 16.3 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 Whittemore?
No census tract lies mostly in Whittemore; 1 tract reaches into it (2020 census blocks).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 9506Kossuth County | 2,126 | $90,147 |
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 Whittemore) · Census block assignment files
How does Whittemore compare with other places in Iowa?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Whittemore is the 13,384th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 448th-most populous of 939 in Iowa.
Whittemore is not ranked by income or the other survey measures: those rankings include places of 1,000 or more residents (2020 Census) with a reliable estimate.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 448th | 939 |
Whittemore's figures with every place in Iowa (CSV)
Every place in Iowa, sortable · Compare Whittemore 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 Whittemore?
26 of the 57 figures for Whittemore 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 Whittemore 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 Whittemore.