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Cambridge, Iowa Demographics & Population 2026

During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Cambridge, Iowa had a total population of 803, the 346th largest city in Iowa, with a median household income of $57,333, which is 24% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 11.2%.

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

Cambridge Quick Facts

Population 803
Median Household Income $57,333
Median Home Value $178,100
Poverty Rate 11.2%
Unemployment Rate 5.2%
Median Age 40.5 years
Homeownership Rate 83.0%
Affordability Ratio 3.1x
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 15.7%
High School Graduation Rate 94.7%
Diversity Index 24/100
Population 803 346th of 1,017
Median Income $57,333 bottom 30%
Poverty Rate 11.2% 10% lower than national
Median Home Value $178,100 top 30%

How Cambridge Changed

Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.

Metric2019–20232020–2024Change
Population948803-15.3%
Median household income$74,531$57,333-23.1%
Median home value$172,800$178,100+3.1%

How Cambridge Compares

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 11.2%
$25K-$50K 30.6%
$50K-$100K 29.4%
$100K+ 28.8%
Detailed income brackets
Under $10K
2.4%
$10K-$15K
4.9%
$15K-$20K
3.3%
$20K-$25K
0.6%
$25K-$30K
1.5%
$30K-$35K
18.8%
$35K-$40K
5.5%
$40K-$45K
3.3%
$45K-$50K
1.5%
$50K-$60K
9.1%
$60K-$75K
6.7%
$75K-$100K
13.6%
$100K-$125K
15.4%
$125K-$150K
7.3%
$150K-$200K
3.9%
$200K+
2.1%

Employment

5.2% Unemployment Rate State: 3.6%|National: 5.2%
68.2% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 83.0%
Renter 17.0%
Affordability Index Affordable
3.1x home value to income ratio
Median gross rent $1,043/mo 21.8% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

24out of 100
Very Low Diversity

A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.

State average: 31 | National average: 61

Education

Cambridge Rankings in Iowa

#346 Population of 1,017
#698 Median Income of 948
#569 Education of 1,016
#217 Home Value of 947

Other Cities in Story County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
Ames 67,669 $60,991 25.4% $277,400
Nevada 6,983 $75,094 9.9% $182,400
Huxley 4,544 $112,094 4.5% $297,100
Story City 3,398 $96,605 12.6% $215,600
Roland 1,559 $79,028 1.1% $185,900
Slater 1,401 $97,500 3.8% $232,800
Gilbert 1,381 $122,656 3.4% $274,600
Maxwell 905 $97,639 4.1% $184,600
Colo 686 $64,000 6.4% $152,000
Zearing 566 $74,167 15.4% $158,800

Cities Similar to Cambridge

These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.

CityPopulationMedian IncomeHome ValueBachelor's+Poverty
Morning Sun802$56,350$102,20011.6%11.3%
Battle Creek803$59,688$73,80010.2%8.2%
Dumont783$58,214$74,80016.3%9.1%
Afton817$54,545$95,30021.0%13.9%
Inwood793$62,333$202,90014.1%5.3%

A note before these figures: with a population of 803, Cambridge'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

Cambridge is a small community located in Iowa, within Story County. The total population is 803. It ranks as the 346th most populous out of 1,017 Census-designated places in Iowa.

Age Demographics

The median age in Cambridge is 40.5 years. This is 5% higher than the state median of 38.6 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Cambridge is $57,333. 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 11.2%. This is about the same as the state poverty rate of 11.1%. The unemployment rate is 5.2%. This is 44% higher than the state rate of 3.6%. The median home value is $178,100. Housing costs are 14% lower than the state median of $208,000. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.1x. 83.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 16% higher than the state average of 71.7%.

Race & Ethnicity

Cambridge has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 86.7% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 8.6%. The Black or African American population (0.3%) is well below the state average of 3.8%. The Asian population (0.1%) is well below the state average of 2.5%.

Education

15.7% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 50% 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 94.7%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Cambridge, 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 Cambridge, Iowa?

Cambridge, Iowa has a population of 803 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What is the median household income in Cambridge, IA?

The median household income in Cambridge is $57,333, which is 29% lower than the national median of $80,734.

What is the poverty rate in Cambridge, IA?

The poverty rate in Cambridge is 11.2%. This means approximately 88 residents live below the federal poverty line.

What is the racial makeup of Cambridge, Iowa?

Cambridge's population is 86.7% White, 0.3% Black, 8.6% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.1% Asian.

What is the median home value in Cambridge, IA?

The median home value in Cambridge is $178,100. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.1x.

How educated is Cambridge, Iowa?

15.7% of adults (25+) in Cambridge hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 3.5% hold a graduate or professional degree.