County · Iowa
Worth County, Iowa
Worth County, Iowa. Worth County had 7,338 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 1.5% since 2020, while Iowa grew 1.5%. It holds 8 places (7 cities, villages and boroughs and 1 census-designated) and 3 census tracts. GEOID 19195.
Worth 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
7,338
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 7,443 · ACS 2020-2024: 7,350
Median household income
$78,008
±$6,274 (90% margin)
Iowa: $75,059
Median home value
$145,800
±$9,974 (90% margin)
Iowa: $208,000
Median gross rent
$758
±$62 (90% margin)
Iowa: $972
How many people live in Worth County, and is it growing?
The 2020 Census counted 7,443 residents in Worth County. The Census Bureau estimates 7,338 for July 1, 2025, down 1.5% since 2020, while Iowa grew 1.5%. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 7,350 over 400 square miles of land.
| Measure | Worth County | Iowa | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 7,350 | 3,210,507 | −95 |
| Households | 3,178±90 | 1,315,707 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.29±0.06 | 2.36 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 3,474±22 | 1,437,699 | −50 |
Worth County's population since 2000
From 7,909 in 2000 to 7,338 in 2025: down 7.2%. 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.
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 Worth County?
Worth County holds 8 places: 7 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places) and 1 census-designated place. The largest is Northwood with 2,056 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.
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 Worth County?
The median resident of Worth County is 44.1 years old; 20.7% are under 18 and 22.9% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 93.3%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 3.5%.
| Measure | Worth County | Iowa | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.1±0.5 | 38.6 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 20.7%±0.3 pts | 22.9% | – |
| 65 years and over | 22.9%±0.3 pts | 18.1% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 3.5% | 7.3% | +0.5 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 93.3%±0.2 pts | 82.3% | −1.0 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.8%±0.5 pts | 3.8% | −0.7 pts |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.4%±0.6 pts | 2.5% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.1%±0.1 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.3 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 1.8%±0.8 pts | 3.5% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.3 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 0.9%±0.7 pts | 5.9% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 2.9%±1.5 pts | 9.1% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 9.1%±1.6 pts | 6.5% | – |
| With a disability | 12.5%±1.9 pts | 12.6% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 7.0%±2.4 pts | 5.0% | +2.8 pts |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 93.6%±1.8 pts | 93.3% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 19.1%±2.5 pts | 31.4% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 4.7%±1.2 pts | 10.5% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 2.2%±1.1 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 Worth County earn?
Half of Worth County's 3,178 households earn less than $78,008 a year (±$6,274), against $75,059 in Iowa. In 2015-2019 it was $70,310 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 8.2% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Worth County | Iowa | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $78,008±$6,274 | $75,059 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $91,205±$5,853 | $98,187 | – |
| Per capita income | $39,261±$2,448 | $40,877 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 8.2%±2.4 pts | 11.1% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 12.0%±5.8 pts | 12.9% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 6.7%±1.8 pts | 8.8% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 85.0%±3.1 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 Worth County?
Owners occupy 83.2% of Worth County's occupied homes and renters 16.8%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $145,800 by its owner (±$9,974). The median renter pays $758 a month including utilities, and 14.6% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Worth County | Iowa | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $145,800±$9,974 | $208,000 | +$14,485 |
| Median gross rent | $758±$62 | $972 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 14.6%±6.5 pts | 35.2% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,182±$57 | $1,533 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 83.2%±2.6 pts | 71.7% | +5.6 pts |
| Housing units | 3,474±22 | 1,437,699 | −50 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0%±0.9 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 1.3%±1.6 pts | 5.7% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 89.9%±1.9 pts | 72.2% | – |
| Mobile homes | 1.6%±1.0 pts | 3.2% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 1.5%±1.0 pts | 1.7% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 43.1%±4.3 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 Worth County building?
Builders took permits for 5 new housing units across Worth County in 2025 (5 single-family), 0.7 per 1,000 residents.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual county files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Worth County get to work?
75.0% of Worth County's workers drive alone and 11.3% work from home. The average trip to work takes 21.4 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 3.5%.
| Measure | Worth County | Iowa | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 68.3%±2.4 pts | 66.4% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 3.5%±1.6 pts | 3.6% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 75.0%±3.1 pts | 76.0% | – |
| Carpooled | 8.8%±1.9 pts | 7.8% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.1%±0.1 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Walked | 2.1%±1.4 pts | 2.9% | – |
| Worked from home | 11.3%±2.2 pts | 11.3% | +4.2 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 21.4 min±1.4 | 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 are Worth County's census tracts?
Worth County is divided into 3 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $62,083 (Tract 6901) to $95,694 (Tract 6902).
| Tract 690119195690100 | 2,598±189 | $62,083 |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 690219195690200 | 2,083±201 | $95,694 |
| Tract 690319195690300 | 2,669±147 | $80,893 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov
How does Worth County compare with Iowa's other counties?
| Measure | Rank |
|---|---|
| Population | 89th of 99 |
| Growth 2020-2025 | 60th of 99 |
| Residents per square mile | 76th of 99 |
| Median household income | 18th of 99 |
| Median home value | 68th of 99 |
| Median gross rent | 74th of 99 |
| Poverty rate | 75th of 99 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 84th of 99 |
| Median age | 17th of 99 |
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 Worth 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.