Carpenter, Iowa Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 81, Carpenter'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

Carpenter is a small community located in Iowa, within Mitchell County. The total population is 81. It ranks as the 887th most populous out of 1,017 Census-designated places in Iowa.

Age Demographics

The median age in Carpenter is 51.9 years. This is 34% higher than the state median of 38.6 years. Only 11.1% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 12.3% 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 Carpenter is $74,107. This is 1% lower than the state median of $75,059. It is also 8% 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 survey records no unemployed residents in Carpenter, which reflects the size of the sample rather than a labor market without joblessness. The median home value is $63,900. Housing costs are 69% lower than the state median of $208,000. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 0.9x, Carpenter is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 84.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 18% higher than the state average of 71.7%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Carpenter is White (non-Hispanic), making up 81.5% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 16.1%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (16.1% vs 7.3%). The Asian population (1.2%) is well below the state average of 2.5%.

Education

14.1% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 55% 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 83.1%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Carpenter, 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.