Cedar County, Iowa Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Cedar County is located in Iowa with a total population of 18,427. It is the 38th most populous county out of 99 in Iowa.

Age Demographics

The median age in Cedar County is 43.8 years. This is 13% higher than the state median of 38.6 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Cedar County is $79,080. This is 8% higher than the state median of $73,147. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is about average. The poverty rate stands at 7.2%. This is 34% lower than the state poverty rate of 11.0%. The unemployment rate is 2.9%. This is 19% lower than the state rate of 3.6%. The median home value is $199,700. Housing costs are 2% higher than the state median of $195,900. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.5x, Cedar County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 80.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 13% higher than the state average of 71.5%.

Race & Ethnicity

Cedar County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 93.8% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 2.6%. The Black or African American population (0.5%) is well below the state average of 3.8%. The Hispanic or Latino population (2.6%) is well below the state average of 7.0%. The Asian population (0.5%) is well below the state average of 2.4%.

Education

21.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 30% lower than the state rate of 30.9%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 95.8%.