Iowa Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Iowa has a total population of 3,210,507, making it a mid-sized state in the nation. The median age is 38.6 years, about the same as the national median of 38.9 years.

Age Demographics

The median age in Iowa is 38.6 years. This is about the same as the national median of 38.9 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Iowa is $75,059. This is 7% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 11.1%. This is 11% lower than the national poverty rate of 12.4%. The unemployment rate is 3.6%. This is 32% lower than the national rate of 5.2%. The median home value is $208,000. Housing costs are 37% lower than the national median of $332,700. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.8x, Iowa is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 71.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 10% higher than the national average of 65.2%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Iowa is White (non-Hispanic), making up 82.3% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 7.3%. The Black or African American population (3.8%) is well below the national average of 11.9%. The Hispanic or Latino population (7.3%) is well below the national average of 19.3%. The Asian population (2.5%) is well below the national average of 5.9%.

Education

31.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 12% lower than the national rate of 35.7%. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 93.3%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Iowa come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.