Barnum, Iowa Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 250, Barnum's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.

Population Overview

Barnum is a small community located in Iowa, within Webster County. The total population is 250. It ranks as the 654th most populous out of 1,017 Census-designated places in Iowa.

Age Demographics

The median age in Barnum is 27.4 years. This is 29% lower than the state median of 38.6 years. With 42.0% of the population under 18, Barnum has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Barnum is $86,615. This is 15% higher than the state median of $75,059. It is also 7% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 5.2%. This is 53% lower than the state poverty rate of 11.1%. The survey records no unemployed residents in Barnum, which reflects the size of the sample rather than a labor market without joblessness. The median home value is $135,600. Housing costs are 35% lower than the state median of $208,000. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.6x, Barnum is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 95.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 34% higher than the state average of 71.7%.

Race & Ethnicity

Barnum has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 96.0% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 0.8%. The Hispanic or Latino population (0.8%) is well below the state average of 7.3%.

Education

0.7% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is among the lowest rates in the state, which may correlate with employment and income patterns. This is 98% 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 93.7%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Barnum, Iowa is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Iowa state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 1,017 Census-designated places in Iowa. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.