Buena Vista County, Iowa Demographics 2026

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

Buena Vista County, Iowa has a population of 20,753, the 30th most populous county in Iowa. The median household income is $71,719 and the median home value is $159,500. The poverty rate is 7.8%.

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

Buena Vista County Quick Facts

Population 20,753

Median Household Income $71,719

Median Home Value $159,500

Poverty Rate 7.8%

Unemployment Rate 5.5%

Median Age 35.6 years

Homeownership Rate 73.2%

Affordability Ratio 2.2x

Bachelor's Degree+ 22.2%

High School Graduation 81.3%

Cities/Places 10

Population 20,753 30th of 99

Median Income $71,719 4% lower than state

Poverty Rate 7.8%

Unemployment 5.5%

How Buena Vista 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	20,684	20,753	+0.3%
Median household income	$66,564	$71,719	+7.7%
Median home value	$146,900	$159,500	+8.6%

Median Household Income

Buena Vista

$71,719

$75,059

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

Buena Vista

$159,500

$208,000

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 11.1%

$25K-$50K 19.8%

$50K-$100K 35.6%

$100K+ 33.4%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

2.8%

$10K-$15K

1.5%

$15K-$20K

2.9%

$20K-$25K

3.9%

$25K-$30K

2.5%

$30K-$35K

4.3%

$35K-$40K

4.9%

$40K-$45K

4.2%

$45K-$50K

4.0%

$50K-$60K

12.5%

$60K-$75K

8.0%

$75K-$100K

15.2%

$100K-$125K

11.3%

$125K-$150K

7.4%

$150K-$200K

8.1%

$200K+

6.7%

Employment

5.5% Unemployment Rate State: 3.6%|National: 5.2%

69.0% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 73.2%

Renter 26.8%

Affordability Index Very Affordable

2.2x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $894/mo 15.0% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

26.6%

18-34

22.2%

35-54

23.1%

55-74

21.5%

75+

6.5%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

High Diversity

A diverse community with significant representation from multiple racial and ethnic groups.

State average: 31 | National average: 61

Education

Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)

Cities & Places in Buena Vista County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Storm Lake	11,428	$62,765	7.0%	$172,200
Alta	2,250	$65,833	10.2%	$146,600
Newell	944	$66,667	2.0%	$122,600
Albert City	722	$80,972	12.9%	$96,500
Sioux Rapids	722	$60,000	6.1%	$88,700
Lakeside	563	$106,250	2.7%	$246,400
Marathon	234	$39,375	25.2%	$46,900
Linn Grove	215	$62,250	9.3%	$93,300
Truesdale	187	$100,076	8.0%	$35,800
Rembrandt	157	$58,438	19.8%	$85,800

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

Buena Vista County is located in Iowa with a total population of 20,753. It is the 30th most populous county out of 99 in Iowa. The county encompasses 10 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Buena Vista County is 35.6 years. This is 8% lower than the state median of 38.6 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Buena Vista County is $71,719. This is 4% lower than the state median of $75,059. It is also 11% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 7.8%. This is 30% lower than the state poverty rate of 11.1%. The unemployment rate is 5.5%. This is 55% higher than the state rate of 3.6%. The median home value is $159,500. Housing costs are 23% lower than the state median of $208,000. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.2x, Buena Vista County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 73.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 2% higher than the state average of 71.7%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Buena Vista County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 52.1% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 29.4%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (29.4% vs 7.3%). The Asian population is significantly higher than the state average (9.5% vs 2.5%).

Education

22.2% 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 81.3%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Buena Vista 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 Buena Vista County, Iowa?

Buena Vista County has a population of 20,753, making it the 30th most populous county in Iowa.

What is the median income in Buena Vista County?

The median household income in Buena Vista County is $71,719 with a poverty rate of 7.8%.

How many cities are in Buena Vista County, Iowa?

Buena Vista County contains 10 Census-designated places.