Appanoose County, Iowa Demographics 2026

Name: Appanoose County, Iowa Demographics
Creator: U.S. Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

Appanoose County, Iowa has a population of 12,184, the 61st most populous county in Iowa. The median household income is $54,934 and the median home value is $124,200. The poverty rate is 17.5%.

Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes

Appanoose County Quick Facts

Population 12,184

Median Household Income $54,934

Median Home Value $124,200

Poverty Rate 17.5%

Unemployment Rate 3.9%

Median Age 43.5 years

Homeownership Rate 68.8%

Affordability Ratio 2.3x

Bachelor's Degree+ 20.5%

High School Graduation 89.8%

Cities/Places 11

Population 12,184 61st of 99

Median Income $54,934 27% lower than state

Poverty Rate 17.5%

Unemployment 3.9%

How Appanoose County Changed

Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.

Metric	2019–2023	2020–2024	Change
Population	12,242	12,184	-0.5%
Median household income	$51,146	$54,934	+7.4%
Median home value	$119,800	$124,200	+3.7%

Median Household Income

Appanoose

$54,934

$75,059

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

Appanoose

$124,200

$208,000

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 21.9%

$25K-$50K 23.0%

$50K-$100K 34.9%

$100K+ 20.2%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

5.8%

$10K-$15K

5.2%

$15K-$20K

5.3%

$20K-$25K

5.7%

$25K-$30K

4.4%

$30K-$35K

6.8%

$35K-$40K

4.4%

$40K-$45K

3.1%

$45K-$50K

4.3%

$50K-$60K

9.3%

$60K-$75K

11.5%

$75K-$100K

14.2%

$100K-$125K

5.5%

$125K-$150K

5.1%

$150K-$200K

7.0%

$200K+

2.6%

Employment

3.9% Unemployment Rate State: 3.6%|National: 5.2%

56.2% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 68.8%

Renter 31.2%

Affordability Index Very Affordable

2.3x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $784/mo 17.1% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

21.6%

18-34

18.0%

35-54

22.7%

55-74

27.6%

75+

10.3%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

Very Low Diversity

A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.

State average: 31 | National average: 61

Education

Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)

Cities & Places in Appanoose County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Centerville	5,372	$46,563	21.3%	$103,000
Moravia	624	$49,286	10.3%	$121,700
Moulton	498	$66,250	15.9%	$81,800
Cincinnati	229	$45,625	23.6%	$56,400
Mystic	216	$41,000	17.1%	$57,500
Unionville	78	$82,813	5.1%	$95,000
Exline	73	$43,750	12.3%	$85,600
Numa	58	$63,125	12.1%	N/A
Plano	39	$63,750	2.6%	$93,300
Rathbun	30	$71,875	6.7%	$151,800
Udell	13	$90,000	23.1%	$55,000

Explore Iowa Rankings

Cities by Population All cities ranked by size Richest Cities Ranked by median income Most Educated By bachelor's degree rate Most Affordable By housing affordability

Population Overview

Appanoose County is located in Iowa with a total population of 12,184. It is the 61st most populous county out of 99 in Iowa. The county encompasses 11 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Appanoose County is 43.5 years. This is 13% higher than the state median of 38.6 years. 10.3% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Appanoose County is $54,934. This is 27% lower than the state median of $75,059. It is also 32% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 17.5%. This is 58% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.1%. The unemployment rate is 3.9%. This is 8% higher than the state rate of 3.6%. The median home value is $124,200. Housing costs are 40% lower than the state median of $208,000. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.3x, Appanoose County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 68.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 4% lower than the state average of 71.7%.

Race & Ethnicity

Appanoose County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 93.8% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 2.0%. The Black or African American population (0.8%) is well below the state average of 3.8%. The Hispanic or Latino population (2.0%) is well below the state average of 7.3%. The Asian population (0.9%) is well below the state average of 2.5%.

Education

20.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 35% lower than the state rate of 31.4%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 89.8%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Appanoose County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against Iowa and 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Appanoose County, Iowa?

Appanoose County has a population of 12,184, making it the 61st most populous county in Iowa.

What is the median income in Appanoose County?

The median household income in Appanoose County is $54,934 with a poverty rate of 17.5%.

How many cities are in Appanoose County, Iowa?

Appanoose County contains 11 Census-designated places.