Benton County, Iowa Demographics 2026
Benton County, Iowa has a population of 25,724, the 25th most populous county in Iowa. The median household income is $86,962 and the median home value is $208,200. The poverty rate is 7.4%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Benton County Quick Facts
How Benton 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 | 25,698 | 25,724 | +0.1% |
| Median household income | $84,742 | $86,962 | +2.6% |
| Median home value | $198,400 | $208,200 | +4.9% |
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+)
Cities & Places in Benton County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vinton | 4,948 | $66,495 | 12.6% | $152,300 |
| Belle Plaine | 2,380 | $73,656 | 3.5% | $113,900 |
| Atkins | 2,225 | $112,138 | 5.3% | $314,900 |
| Urbana | 1,639 | $115,655 | 5.5% | $228,900 |
| Newhall | 996 | $67,443 | 12.9% | $186,300 |
| Shellsburg | 868 | $70,179 | 2.7% | $175,800 |
| Keystone | 674 | $67,500 | 10.6% | $148,400 |
| Blairstown | 654 | $79,375 | 12.5% | $175,000 |
| Van Horne | 612 | $77,344 | 14.9% | $184,500 |
| Norway | 546 | $76,667 | 7.9% | $158,400 |
| Garrison | 286 | $60,313 | 19.9% | $72,900 |
| Watkins | 201 | $96,296 | 0.0% | $102,800 |
| Mount Auburn | 172 | $79,000 | 11.6% | $125,000 |
| Luzerne | 120 | $100,357 | 10.0% | $66,300 |
Explore Iowa Rankings
Population Overview
Benton County is located in Iowa with a total population of 25,724. It is the 25th most populous county out of 99 in Iowa. The county encompasses 14 Census-designated places.
Age Demographics
The median age in Benton County is 43.1 years. This is 12% higher than the state median of 38.6 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Benton County is $86,962. This is 16% higher than the state median of $75,059. It is also 8% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 7.4%. This is 33% lower than the state poverty rate of 11.1%. The unemployment rate is 2.0%. This is 44% lower than the state rate of 3.6%. The median home value is $208,200. Housing costs are about the same as the state median of $208,000. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.4x, Benton County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 85.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 19% higher than the state average of 71.7%.
Race & Ethnicity
Benton County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 94.4% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 2.0%. The Black or African American population (0.4%) 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 (0.2%) is well below the state average of 2.5%.
Education
25.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 19% 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 figures for Benton 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 Benton County, Iowa?
Benton County has a population of 25,724, making it the 25th most populous county in Iowa.
What is the median income in Benton County?
The median household income in Benton County is $86,962 with a poverty rate of 7.4%.
How many cities are in Benton County, Iowa?
Benton County contains 14 Census-designated places.