Carbon, Iowa Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Carbon, Iowa had a total population of 46, the 949th largest city in Iowa, with a median household income of $48,750, which is 35% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 30.4%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- Household income is 35% below the state average, indicating significant economic challenges.
- More than 1 in 4 residents live below the poverty line (30.4%), well above the national average of 12.4%.
- Only 8.7% of adults have a bachelor's degree, well below the national average of 35.7%.
Carbon Quick Facts
How Carbon 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 | 46 | 46 | +0.0% |
How Carbon Compares
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+)
Carbon Rankings in Iowa
Explore Iowa Rankings
Other Cities in Adams County
Cities Similar to Carbon
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sandyville | 44 | N/A | $187,500 | 16.7% | 2.3% |
| Craig | 49 | $50,000 | $100,000 | 5.0% | 10.2% |
| Thayer | 45 | $55,000 | $25,800 | 7.4% | 4.4% |
| Plover | 45 | $41,250 | N/A | 13.9% | 17.8% |
| Nemaha | 48 | $56,667 | $63,300 | 3.3% | 0.0% |
A note before these figures: with a population of 46, Carbon'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
Carbon is a small community located in Iowa, within Adams County. The total population is 46. It ranks as the 949th most populous out of 1,017 Census-designated places in Iowa.
Age Demographics
The median age in Carbon is 66.8 years. This is 73% higher than the state median of 38.6 years. 17.4% 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 Carbon is $48,750. This is 35% lower than the state median of $75,059. It is also 40% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 30.4%. This is 175% 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 survey records no unemployed residents in Carbon, which reflects the size of the sample rather than a labor market without joblessness. 82.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 15% higher than the state average of 71.7%.
Race & Ethnicity
Carbon has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 95.7% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 4.3%.
Education
8.7% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 72% 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 69.6%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Carbon, 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.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Carbon, Iowa?
Carbon, Iowa has a population of 46 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Carbon, IA?
The median household income in Carbon is $48,750, which is 40% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Carbon, IA?
The poverty rate in Carbon is 30.4%. This means approximately 14 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Carbon, Iowa?
Carbon's population is 95.7% White, 0.0% Black, 4.3% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.0% Asian.
What is the median home value in Carbon, IA?
The Census Bureau does not publish a reliable median home value estimate for Carbon — there are too few owner-occupied homes in the ACS sample. The national median is $332,700.
How educated is Carbon, Iowa?
8.7% of adults (25+) in Carbon hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 0.0% hold a graduate or professional degree.