Buchanan County, Iowa Demographics 2026

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

Buchanan County, Iowa has a population of 20,694, the 31st most populous county in Iowa. The median household income is $78,236 and the median home value is $176,000. The poverty rate is 8.6%.

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

Buchanan County Quick Facts

Population 20,694

Median Household Income $78,236

Median Home Value $176,000

Poverty Rate 8.6%

Unemployment Rate 2.8%

Median Age 40.3 years

Homeownership Rate 82.1%

Affordability Ratio 2.2x

Bachelor's Degree+ 22.4%

High School Graduation 94.1%

Cities/Places 10

Population 20,694 31st of 99

Median Income $78,236 4% higher than state

Poverty Rate 8.6%

Unemployment 2.8%

How Buchanan 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	20,645	20,694	+0.2%
Median household income	$78,430	$78,236	-0.2%
Median home value	$171,400	$176,000	+2.7%

Median Household Income

Buchanan

$78,236

$75,059

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

Buchanan

$176,000

$208,000

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 13.0%

$25K-$50K 17.8%

$50K-$100K 34.0%

$100K+ 35.2%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

3.5%

$10K-$15K

2.3%

$15K-$20K

3.3%

$20K-$25K

3.9%

$25K-$30K

3.2%

$30K-$35K

3.1%

$35K-$40K

2.3%

$40K-$45K

4.7%

$45K-$50K

4.5%

$50K-$60K

6.5%

$60K-$75K

10.9%

$75K-$100K

16.6%

$100K-$125K

13.2%

$125K-$150K

8.0%

$150K-$200K

8.9%

$200K+

5.2%

Employment

2.8% Unemployment Rate State: 3.6%|National: 5.2%

68.0% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 82.1%

Renter 17.9%

Affordability Index Very Affordable

2.2x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $848/mo 13.0% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

25.4%

18-34

18.0%

35-54

24.1%

55-74

24.9%

75+

7.5%

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 Buchanan County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Independence	6,164	$73,806	7.6%	$165,300
Fairbank	1,275	$89,712	4.1%	$186,900
Winthrop	1,040	$69,792	3.8%	$158,200
Hazleton	720	$51,964	14.9%	$85,900
Quasqueton	703	$75,000	12.7%	$145,800
Lamont	514	$61,250	13.0%	$98,600
Rowley	353	$60,313	9.5%	$145,800
Brandon	307	$61,250	13.0%	$113,800
Aurora	214	$62,656	11.7%	$128,300
Stanley	69	$70,500	7.2%	N/A

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

Buchanan County is located in Iowa with a total population of 20,694. It is the 31st most populous county out of 99 in Iowa. The county encompasses 10 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Buchanan County is 40.3 years. This is 4% higher than the state median of 38.6 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Buchanan County is $78,236. This is 4% higher than the state median of $75,059. It is also 3% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 8.6%. This is 22% lower than the state poverty rate of 11.1%. The unemployment rate is 2.8%. This is 21% lower than the state rate of 3.6%. The median home value is $176,000. Housing costs are 15% lower than the state median of $208,000. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.2x, Buchanan County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 82.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 15% higher than the state average of 71.7%.

Race & Ethnicity

Buchanan County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 95.0% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 1.9%. The Black or African American population (0.6%) is well below the state average of 3.8%. The Hispanic or Latino population (1.9%) is well below the state average of 7.3%. The Asian population (0.2%) is well below the state average of 2.5%.

Education

22.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 29% 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 94.1%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Buchanan 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 Buchanan County, Iowa?

Buchanan County has a population of 20,694, making it the 31st most populous county in Iowa.

What is the median income in Buchanan County?

The median household income in Buchanan County is $78,236 with a poverty rate of 8.6%.

How many cities are in Buchanan County, Iowa?

Buchanan County contains 10 Census-designated places.