County · Iowa

Cass County, Iowa

Cass County, Iowa. Cass County had 12,960 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 1.3% since 2020, while Iowa grew 1.5%. It holds 8 places (8 cities, villages and boroughs) and 5 census tracts. GEOID 19029.

Residents, July 2025 estimate

12,960

Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 13,127 · ACS 2020-2024: 13,096

Median household income

$63,013

±$3,821 (90% margin)
Iowa: $75,059

Median home value

$150,300

±$10,147 (90% margin)
Iowa: $208,000

Median gross rent

$777

±$64 (90% margin)
Iowa: $972

How many people live in Cass County, and is it growing?

The 2020 Census counted 13,127 residents in Cass County. The Census Bureau estimates 12,960 for July 1, 2025, down 1.3% since 2020, while Iowa grew 1.5%. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 13,096 over 564 square miles of land.

  • July 2020→2021 −31 (13,087)
  • 2021→2022 +40 (13,127)
  • 2022→2023 −7 (13,120)
  • 2023→2024 −115 (13,005)
  • 2024→2025 −45 (12,960)
Cass County in Iowa. Boundaries: Census Bureau 2024.
Counts, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates, with the change from 2015-2019
MeasureCass CountyIowaChange since 2015-2019
Total population13,0963,210,507+5
Households5,844±1311,315,707no clear change
Average household size2.20±0.052.36no clear change
Housing units6,393±241,437,699−184

Cass County's population since 2000

From 14,684 in 2000 to 12,960 in 2025: down 11.7%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts. 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 14,684
  • 2005 (estimate) 14,002
  • 2010 Census 13,956
  • 2015 (estimate) 13,354
  • 2020 Census 13,127
  • 2025 (estimate) 12,960

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); PEP Vintage 2025 (CO-EST2025); 2020 Census · Check it at data.census.gov

What cities and towns are in Cass County?

Cass County holds 8 places: 8 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places). The largest is Atlantic with 6,676 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.

Places in Cass County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Ring: estimate with a coefficient of variation over 40%.
Atlanticcity6,7926,763±18$61,141$149,90017.4%100%
Griswoldcity994975±155$55,000$98,90013.3%100%
Anitacity963957±198$66,307$134,40016.1%100%
Massenacity359383±105$61,827$101,00014.4%100%
LewisGEOID 1944805city357461±166$36,691$49,90013.9%100%
Cumberlandcity251302±110$47,083$62,90018.9%100%
MarneGEOID 1949575city11098±48$61,875$98,8005.1%100%
WiotaGEOID 1986610city9178±40$78,077$121,9006.4%100%

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 place-by-county parts · Check it at data.census.gov

Who lives in Cass County?

The median resident of Cass County is 43.5 years old; 23.2% are under 18 and 23.4% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 93.5%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 2.7%. 0.9% of residents were born outside the United States.

Age, origin and education, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Race groups are non-Hispanic; Hispanic includes any race.
MeasureCass CountyIowaChange since 2015-2019
Median age43.5±0.638.6−1.4
Under 18 years23.2%±0.8 pts22.9%–
65 years and over23.4%±0.1 pts18.1%–
Hispanic or Latino (any race)2.7%7.3%no clear change
White alone, not Hispanic93.5%±0.4 pts82.3%−1.8 pts
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic0.9%±0.2 pts3.8%–
Asian alone, not Hispanic0.5%±0.2 pts2.5%no clear change
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic0.2%±0.2 pts0.2%–
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic0.4%±0.5 pts0.2%–
Two or more races, not Hispanic1.6%±0.6 pts3.5%–
Some other race alone, not Hispanic0.2%±0.3 pts0.3%–
Born outside the United States0.9%±0.4 pts5.9%no clear change
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+)1.4%±0.5 pts9.1%–
Civilian veterans (age 18+)6.4%±1.4 pts6.5%–
With a disability15.0%±2.0 pts12.6%–
No health insurance coverage4.1%±1.5 pts5.0%no clear change
High school graduate or higher (age 25+)94.5%±1.7 pts93.3%–
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+)22.1%±2.4 pts31.4%no clear change
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+)5.1%±1.3 pts10.5%–
Moved from another state in the past year1.4%±0.8 pts2.2%–

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 Cass County earn?

Half of Cass County's 5,844 households earn less than $63,013 a year (±$3,821), against $75,059 in Iowa. In 2015-2019 it was $61,765 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 14.3% of residents live below the poverty line.

Income and poverty in 2024 dollars, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
MeasureCass CountyIowaChange since 2015-2019
Median household income$63,013±$3,821$75,059no clear change
Mean household income$84,546±$6,636$98,187–
Per capita income$37,667±$2,591$40,877no clear change
People below the poverty line14.3%±2.8 pts11.1%no clear change
Children under 18 below the poverty line21.3%±6.6 pts12.9%no clear change
Households receiving SNAP12.0%±2.5 pts8.8%–
Households with a broadband subscription83.9%±2.5 pts88.9%–

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 Cass County?

Owners occupy 71.6% of Cass County's occupied homes and renters 28.4%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $150,300 by its owner (±$10,147). The median renter pays $777 a month including utilities, and 39.3% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
MeasureCass CountyIowaChange since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied)$150,300±$10,147$208,000+$24,646
Median gross rent$777±$64$972no clear change
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent39.3%±7.6 pts35.2%+14.5 pts
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage$1,128±$82$1,533–
Owner-occupied homes71.6%±3.0 pts71.7%no clear change
Housing units6,393±241,437,699−184
Homeowner vacancy rate0.2%±0.2 pts0.8%–
Rental vacancy rate6.2%±4.3 pts5.7%–
Single-family detached homes81.7%±2.6 pts72.2%–
Mobile homes2.3%±1.4 pts3.2%–
Built 2020 or later0.9%±0.6 pts1.7%–
Built 1939 or earlier38.1%±3.7 pts23.5%–

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 Cass County building?

Builders took permits for 11 new housing units across Cass County in 2025 (7 single-family), 0.8 per 1,000 residents.

  • 2019 15 units
  • 2020 10 units
  • 2021 6 units
  • 2022 7 units
  • 2023 16 units
  • 2024 10 units
  • 2025 11 units

Source: Building Permits Survey, annual county files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey

How do people in Cass County get to work?

79.7% of Cass County's workers drive alone and 10.0% work from home. The average trip to work takes 15.1 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 1.4%.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
MeasureCass CountyIowaChange since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+)63.5%±2.5 pts66.4%–
Unemployment rate1.4%±0.7 pts3.6%no clear change
Drove alone to work79.7%±3.3 pts76.0%–
Carpooled4.9%±1.7 pts7.8%–
Public transportation0.1%±0.1 pts0.7%–
Walked3.8%±1.5 pts2.9%–
Worked from home10.0%±2.8 pts11.3%+6.1 pts
Mean travel time to work15.1 min±1.119.8 min−3.2 min

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 are Cass County's census tracts?

Cass County is divided into 5 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $47,841 (Tract 1905) to $75,403 (Tract 1901).

Census tracts of Cass County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates; sort by any column
Tract 190119029190100Anita (13%)2,4332,376±189$75,403$157,000$61311.0%
Tract 190219029190200Griswold (32%)2,1862,195±197$62,721$115,900$9418.8%
Tract 190319029190300Massena (13%)1,5371,582±167$60,781$168,800$91715.4%
Tract 190419029190400Atlantic (95%)4,0734,235±298$64,703$157,600$7959.8%
Tract 190519029190500Atlantic (91%)2,8982,708±299$47,841$120,300$74627.6%

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov

How does Cass County compare with Iowa's other counties?

Cass County's rank among Iowa's counties with a reliable estimate (1 = highest)
MeasureRank
Population58th of 99
Growth 2020-202554th of 99
Residents per square mile61st of 99
Median household income84th of 99
Median home value63rd of 99
Median gross rent68th of 99
Poverty rate15th of 99
Bachelor's degree or higher53rd of 99
Median age28th of 99

Every county in Iowa

Source: PlainCities ranks 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 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 Cass County 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' school search.