State
Iowa
Iowa. Iowa had 3,238,387 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 1.5% since 2020, slower than the United States (+3.1%). 1,026 places (940 incorporated and 86 census-designated) in 99 counties; 55,854 square miles of land.
Residents, 2025 estimate
3,238,387
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 3,190,369
Median household income
$75,059
±$418 (90% margin)
Median home value
$208,000
±$1,141 (90% margin)
Median gross rent
$972
±$6 (90% margin)
How many people live in Iowa?
The 2020 Census counted 3,190,369 residents in Iowa. The Census Bureau estimates 3,238,387 for July 1, 2025, up 1.5% since 2020, slower than the United States (+3.1%). 81.7% of residents live in an incorporated place or a census-designated place; the rest live outside any place.
Iowa is the 32nd-most populous of the 50 states by the July 2025 estimates (every state ranked).
| Measure | Iowa | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|
| Total population | 3,210,507 | +70,999 |
| Households | 1,315,707 ±3,984 | +50,234 |
| Average household size | 2.36 ±0.01 | −0.04 |
| Housing units | 1,437,699 ±523 | +40,612 |
Iowa's population since 2000
From 2,926,324 in 2000 to 3,238,387 in 2025: up 10.7%. 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.
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; 2020 Census · Check it at data.census.gov
What are the largest cities in Iowa?
Des Moines is Iowa's largest place with 212,086 residents in 2025, followed by Cedar Rapids (137,935 residents in 2025) and Davenport (100,358 residents in 2025).
| Place | Residents | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Des Moines | 212,086 | $65,932 |
| Cedar Rapids | 137,935 | $70,424 |
| Davenport | 100,358 | $66,200 |
| Sioux City | 86,356 | $68,906 |
| Ankeny | 77,833 | $108,198 |
| Iowa City | 76,229 | $58,546 |
| West Des Moines | 74,224 | $86,594 |
| Ames | 68,220 | $60,991 |
| Waterloo | 66,919 | $57,480 |
| Council Bluffs | 62,680 | $64,578 |
| Dubuque | 59,148 | $65,845 |
| Urbandale | 48,570 | $112,795 |
| Marion | 42,732 | $86,743 |
| Cedar Falls | 41,240 | $76,987 |
| Bettendorf | 40,710 | $100,495 |
| Waukee | 34,890 | $101,029 |
| Marshalltown | 27,536 | $69,068 |
| Mason City | 26,853 | $64,804 |
| Ottumwa | 25,319 | $61,103 |
| Johnston | 25,065 | $106,551 |
| Fort Dodge | 24,837 | $60,649 |
| Clinton | 24,049 | $60,230 |
| Coralville | 23,960 | $69,144 |
| Burlington | 23,336 | $59,000 |
| Muscatine | 23,164 | $58,117 |
Source: PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025); American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Census population estimates
What counties are in Iowa?
Iowa has 99 counties. Polk County is the largest with 516,546 residents in 2025; Adams County is the smallest with 3,617.
Source: PEP Vintage 2025 (CO-EST2025), U.S. Census Bureau · Census population estimates
Who lives in Iowa?
The median resident of Iowa is 38.6 years old; 22.9% are under 18 and 18.1% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 82.3%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 7.3%. 5.9% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Iowa | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.6 ±0.2 | +0.4 |
| Under 18 years | 22.9% ±0.1 pts | – |
| 65 years and over | 18.1% ±0.1 pts | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 7.3% ±0.1 pts | +1.3 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 82.3% ±0.1 pts | −3.4 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 3.8% ±0.1 pts | +0.2 pts |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 2.5% ±0.1 pts | no clear change |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.2% ±0.1 pts | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.2% ±0.1 pts | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 3.5% ±0.1 pts | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.3% ±0.1 pts | – |
| Born outside the United States | 5.9% ±0.1 pts | +0.6 pts |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 9.1% ±0.2 pts | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 6.5% ±0.1 pts | – |
| With a disability | 12.6% ±0.1 pts | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 5.0% ±0.1 pts | +0.3 pts |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 93.3% ±0.1 pts | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 31.4% ±0.3 pts | +2.8 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 10.5% ±0.2 pts | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 2.2% ±0.1 pts | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Iowa earn?
Half of Iowa's 1,315,707 households earn less than $75,059 a year (±$418). In 2015-2019 it was $74,485 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 11.1% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Iowa | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $75,059 ±$418 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $98,187 ±$610 | – |
| Per capita income | $40,877 ±$247 | +$1,278 |
| People below the poverty line | 11.1% ±0.2 pts | −0.4 pts |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 12.9% ±0.4 pts | −0.9 pts |
| Households receiving SNAP | 8.8% ±0.2 pts | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 88.9% ±0.2 pts | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Iowa?
Owners occupy 71.7% of Iowa's occupied homes and renters 28.3%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $208,000 by its owner (±$1,141). The median renter pays $972 a month including utilities, and 35.2% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Iowa | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $208,000 ±$1,141 | +$26,103 |
| Median gross rent | $972 ±$6 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 35.2% ±0.6 pts | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,533 ±$9 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 71.7% ±0.3 pts | +0.6 pts |
| Housing units | 1,437,699 ±523 | +40,612 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.8% ±0.1 pts | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 5.7% ±0.3 pts | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 72.2% ±0.2 pts | – |
| Mobile homes | 3.2% ±0.1 pts | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 1.7% ±0.1 pts | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 23.5% ±0.2 pts | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Iowa building?
Builders took permits for 13,664 new housing units in Iowa in 2025 (7,326 single-family), 4.2 per 1,000 residents.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual county files summed by state, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Iowa get to work?
76.0% of Iowa's workers drive alone and 11.3% work from home. The average trip to work takes 19.8 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 3.6%.
| Measure | Iowa | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 66.4% ±0.2 pts | – |
| Unemployment rate | 3.6% ±0.1 pts | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 76.0% ±0.2 pts | – |
| Carpooled | 7.8% ±0.2 pts | – |
| Public transportation | 0.7% ±0.1 pts | – |
| Walked | 2.9% ±0.1 pts | – |
| Worked from home | 11.3% ±0.2 pts | +6.4 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 19.8 min ±0.1 | +0.5 min |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections