County · Iowa

Cerro Gordo County, Iowa

Cerro Gordo County, Iowa. Cerro Gordo County had 42,372 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 1.7% since 2020, while Iowa grew 1.5%. It holds 13 places (11 cities, villages and boroughs and 2 census-designated) and 12 census tracts. GEOID 19033.

Cerro Gordo County is one of the 2 counties of the Mason City, IA micropolitan statistical area (the Census Bureau's July 2023 delineation).

Residents, July 2025 estimate

42,372

Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 43,127 · ACS 2020-2024: 42,632

Median household income

$68,189

±$2,473 (90% margin)
Iowa: $75,059

Median home value

$166,400

±$6,119 (90% margin)
Iowa: $208,000

Median gross rent

$850

±$42 (90% margin)
Iowa: $972

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

The 2020 Census counted 43,127 residents in Cerro Gordo County. The Census Bureau estimates 42,372 for July 1, 2025, down 1.7% since 2020, while Iowa grew 1.5%. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 42,632 over 568 square miles of land.

July 2020→2021 −245 (42,773)
2021→2022 −372 (42,401)
2022→2023 +26 (42,427)
2023→2024 −80 (42,347)
2024→2025 +25 (42,372)

Cerro Gordo County in Iowa. Boundaries: Census Bureau 2024.

Counts, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates, with the change from 2015-2019
Measure	Cerro Gordo County	Iowa	Change since 2015-2019
Total population	42,632	3,210,507	−202
Households	19,538±376	1,315,707	no clear change
Average household size	2.13±0.04	2.36	no clear change
Housing units	22,786±38	1,437,699	+438

Cerro Gordo County's population since 2000

From 46,447 in 2000 to 42,372 in 2025: down 8.8%. 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 46,447
2005 (estimate) 44,741
2010 Census 44,151
2015 (estimate) 43,006
2020 Census 43,127
2025 (estimate) 42,372

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 Cerro Gordo County?

Cerro Gordo County holds 13 places: 11 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places) and 2 census-designated places. The largest is Mason City with 26,853 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 Cerro Gordo County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Ring: estimate with a coefficient of variation over 40%.

Mason City	city	27,338	27,050±27	$64,804	$142,000	12.0%	100%
Clear Lake	city	7,687	7,607±20	$79,415	$259,500	8.3%	100%
Rockwell	city	1,071	986±194	$60,982	$163,300	14.8%	100%
Ventura	city	711	733±141	$91,944	$389,500	5.7%	100%
Thornton	city	400	514±113	$67,031	$115,500	9.3%	100%
Plymouth	city	375	407±107	$80,000	$125,700	13.0%	100%
Meservey	city	222	262±104	$46,750	$50,800	31.7%	100%
Rock FallsGEOID 1968025	city	150	119±45	$71,042	$156,300	5.9%	100%
SwaledaleGEOID 1976620	city	144	148±61	$51,912	$62,900	4.7%	100%
DoughertyGEOID 1922080	city	62	88±40	$45,500	$50,000	8.0%	100%
BurchinalGEOID 1909415	CDP	33	6±10	not published	not published	0.0%	100%
PortlandGEOID 1964155	CDP	28	29±33	not published	not published	0.0%	100%
Nora Springs	city	1,369	1,363±227	$78,594	$134,500	5.3%	0%

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 Cerro Gordo County?

The median resident of Cerro Gordo County is 44.0 years old; 20.8% are under 18 and 23.5% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 88.2%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 5.6%. 2.6% 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.
Measure	Cerro Gordo County	Iowa	Change since 2015-2019
Median age	44.0±0.4	38.6	no clear change
Under 18 years	20.8%±0.1 pts	22.9%	–
65 years and over	23.5%±0.3 pts	18.1%	–
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	5.6%	7.3%	+0.7 pts
White alone, not Hispanic	88.2%±0.2 pts	82.3%	−2.4 pts
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic	1.9%±0.5 pts	3.8%	no clear change
Asian alone, not Hispanic	1.2%±0.2 pts	2.5%	no clear change
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic	0.2%±0.1 pts	0.2%	–
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic	0.6%±0.1 pts	0.2%	–
Two or more races, not Hispanic	2.2%±0.5 pts	3.5%	–
Some other race alone, not Hispanic	0.0%±0.1 pts	0.3%	–
Born outside the United States	2.6%±0.5 pts	5.9%	no clear change
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+)	3.7%±0.8 pts	9.1%	–
Civilian veterans (age 18+)	7.9%±0.8 pts	6.5%	–
With a disability	14.5%±1.3 pts	12.6%	–
No health insurance coverage	4.5%±0.9 pts	5.0%	no clear change
High school graduate or higher (age 25+)	94.8%±1.0 pts	93.3%	–
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+)	24.0%±2.1 pts	31.4%	no clear change
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+)	7.9%±1.3 pts	10.5%	–
Moved from another state in the past year	2.3%±0.8 pts	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 Cerro Gordo County earn?

Half of Cerro Gordo County's 19,538 households earn less than $68,189 a year (±$2,473), against $75,059 in Iowa. In 2015-2019 it was $66,412 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 10.6% of residents live below the poverty line.

Income and poverty in 2024 dollars, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Cerro Gordo County	Iowa	Change since 2015-2019
Median household income	$68,189±$2,473	$75,059	no clear change
Mean household income	$92,087±$5,949	$98,187	–
Per capita income	$41,560±$2,628	$40,877	no clear change
People below the poverty line	10.6%±1.4 pts	11.1%	no clear change
Children under 18 below the poverty line	13.7%±3.5 pts	12.9%	no clear change
Households receiving SNAP	9.0%±1.4 pts	8.8%	–
Households with a broadband subscription	89.2%±1.4 pts	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 Cerro Gordo County?

Owners occupy 70.4% of Cerro Gordo County's occupied homes and renters 29.6%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $166,400 by its owner (±$6,119). The median renter pays $850 a month including utilities, and 28.5% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Cerro Gordo County	Iowa	Change since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied)	$166,400±$6,119	$208,000	no clear change
Median gross rent	$850±$42	$972	no clear change
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent	28.5%±4.4 pts	35.2%	no clear change
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage	$1,365±$44	$1,533	–
Owner-occupied homes	70.4%±2.3 pts	71.7%	no clear change
Housing units	22,786±38	1,437,699	+438
Homeowner vacancy rate	0.4%±0.4 pts	0.8%	–
Rental vacancy rate	3.3%±2.0 pts	5.7%	–
Single-family detached homes	76.5%±2.0 pts	72.2%	–
Mobile homes	3.2%±1.0 pts	3.2%	–
Built 2020 or later	1.1%±0.6 pts	1.7%	–
Built 1939 or earlier	27.6%±2.3 pts	23.5%	–

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 Cerro Gordo County building?

Builders took permits for 116 new housing units across Cerro Gordo County in 2025 (40 single-family), 2.7 per 1,000 residents.

2019 42 units
2020 176 units
2021 40 units
2022 130 units
2023 44 units
2024 52 units
2025 116 units

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

How do people in Cerro Gordo County get to work?

80.1% of Cerro Gordo County's workers drive alone and 7.2% work from home. The average trip to work takes 15.6 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 2.6%.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Cerro Gordo County	Iowa	Change since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+)	63.2%±1.5 pts	66.4%	–
Unemployment rate	2.6%±0.8 pts	3.6%	−1.4 pts
Drove alone to work	80.1%±2.5 pts	76.0%	–
Carpooled	7.6%±1.9 pts	7.8%	–
Public transportation	0.8%±0.4 pts	0.7%	–
Walked	3.3%±1.0 pts	2.9%	–
Worked from home	7.2%±1.3 pts	11.3%	+2.2 pts
Mean travel time to work	15.6 min±0.8	19.8 min	−1.3 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 Cerro Gordo County's census tracts?

Cerro Gordo County is divided into 12 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $53,684 (Tract 9501.02) to $105,435 (Tract 9509).

Census tracts of Cerro Gordo County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates; sort by any column

Tract 9501.0219033950102	Mason City (98%)	4,374	4,115±535	$53,684	$122,400	$827	12.4%
Tract 9502.0119033950201	Mason City (79%)	2,737	2,417±325	$67,893	$168,500	$760	7.1%
Tract 9502.0219033950202	Mason City (89%)	3,664	4,195±482	$67,791	$134,400	$673	15.5%
Tract 950319033950300	Mason City (97%)	4,422	4,103±534	$58,672	$124,700	$987	8.8%
Tract 9504.0219033950402	Mason City (94%)	4,146	4,121±494	$55,417	$107,900	$868	20.7%
Tract 950619033950600	Plymouth (7%)	2,145	2,248±252	$96,350	$227,700	$553	4.3%
Tract 950719033950700	Clear Lake (77%)	4,030	3,796±292	$78,398	$230,700	$847	4.2%
Tract 950819033950800	Clear Lake (43%)	4,785	4,792±319	$73,580	$306,400	$754	12.2%
Tract 950919033950900	Clear Lake (5%)	1,659	1,796±263	$105,435	$334,200	not published	7.0%
Tract 951019033951000	Rockwell (13%)	2,763	2,617±254	$63,563	$150,900	$662	11.4%
Tract 951419033951400	Mason City (68%)	3,900	4,115±441	$103,750	$291,400	$1,000	5.6%
Tract 951619033951600	Mason City	4,502	4,317±643	$67,968	$160,600	$936	10.9%

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

How does Cerro Gordo County compare with Iowa's other counties?

Cerro Gordo County's rank among Iowa's counties with a reliable estimate (1 = highest)
Measure	Rank
Population	13th of 99
Growth 2020-2025	64th of 99
Residents per square mile	15th of 99
Median household income	63rd of 99
Median home value	43rd of 99
Median gross rent	38th of 99
Poverty rate	46th of 99
Bachelor's degree or higher	34th of 99
Median age	18th 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 Cerro Gordo 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.