Bayard, Iowa Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Bayard, Iowa had a total population of 398, the 529th largest city in Iowa, with a median household income of $57,250, which is 24% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 26.7%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- More than 1 in 4 residents live below the poverty line (26.7%), well above the national average of 12.4%.
- Only 5.9% of adults have a bachelor's degree, well below the national average of 35.7%.
- Housing is very affordable with a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.1x.
Bayard Quick Facts
How Bayard 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 | 399 | 398 | -0.3% |
| Median household income | $43,750 | $57,250 | +30.9% |
| Median home value | $57,700 | $65,800 | +14.0% |
How Bayard Compares
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
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+)
Bayard Rankings in Iowa
Explore Iowa Rankings
Other Cities in Guthrie County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guthrie Center | 1,689 | $71,116 | 14.8% | $123,800 |
| Stuart | 1,655 | $65,000 | 14.0% | $159,500 |
| Panora | 1,579 | $66,339 | 9.3% | $182,000 |
| Lake Panorama | 928 | $126,563 | 4.9% | $388,600 |
| Yale | 405 | $54,464 | 12.3% | $80,800 |
| Menlo | 398 | $77,396 | 5.3% | $107,100 |
| Casey | 381 | $58,438 | 27.6% | $96,600 |
| Diamondhead Lake | 285 | $148,542 | 0.0% | $411,800 |
| Bagley | 223 | $38,906 | 19.0% | $80,000 |
| Jamaica | 189 | $52,250 | 23.5% | $67,000 |
Cities Similar to Bayard
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lost Nation | 390 | $57,000 | $77,300 | 17.0% | 14.1% |
| Farnhamville | 386 | $57,188 | $72,300 | 15.5% | 16.2% |
| New Albin | 399 | $61,953 | $134,600 | 11.4% | 3.5% |
| Yale | 405 | $54,464 | $80,800 | 12.7% | 12.3% |
| McCausland | 397 | $62,143 | $187,500 | 18.7% | 16.4% |
A note before these figures: with a population of 398, Bayard'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
Bayard is a small community located in Iowa, within Guthrie County. The total population is 398. It ranks as the 529th most populous out of 1,017 Census-designated places in Iowa.
Age Demographics
The median age in Bayard is 40.7 years. This is 5% higher than the state median of 38.6 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Bayard is $57,250. This is 24% lower than the state median of $75,059. It is also 29% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 26.7%. This is 141% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.1%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 4.7%. This is 30% higher than the state rate of 3.6%. The median home value is $65,800. Housing costs are 68% lower than the state median of $208,000. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.1x, Bayard is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 74.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 4% higher than the state average of 71.7%.
Race & Ethnicity
Bayard has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 91.0% of all residents. Black or African American residents account for 4.8%. The Hispanic or Latino population (1.5%) is well below the state average of 7.3%.
Education
5.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 81% 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 95.2%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Bayard, 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.
Free data download: Get all Iowa city and county demographics as CSV. Download Cities CSV | Download Counties CSV
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Bayard, Iowa?
Bayard, Iowa has a population of 398 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Bayard, IA?
The median household income in Bayard is $57,250, which is 29% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Bayard, IA?
The poverty rate in Bayard is 26.7%. This means approximately 104 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Bayard, Iowa?
Bayard's population is 91.0% White, 4.8% Black, 1.5% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.0% Asian.
What is the median home value in Bayard, IA?
The median home value in Bayard is $65,800. The home-value-to-income ratio is 1.1x.
How educated is Bayard, Iowa?
5.9% of adults (25+) in Bayard hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 0.7% hold a graduate or professional degree.