Beacon, Iowa Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 425, Beacon'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

Beacon is a small community located in Iowa, within Mahaska County. The total population is 425. It ranks as the 512th most populous out of 1,017 Census-designated places in Iowa.

Age Demographics

The median age in Beacon is 52.5 years. This is 36% higher than the state median of 38.6 years. 12.9% 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 Beacon is $55,625. This is 26% lower than the state median of $75,059. It is also 31% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 20.5%. This is 85% 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 1.4%. This is 61% lower than the state rate of 3.6%. The median home value is $77,900. Housing costs are 63% lower than the state median of $208,000. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.4x, Beacon is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 87.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 22% higher than the state average of 71.7%.

Race & Ethnicity

Beacon has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 91.1% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 2.1%. The Hispanic or Latino population (2.1%) is well below the state average of 7.3%.

Education

8.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 75% 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 84.0%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Beacon, 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.