Centralia, Iowa Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 117, Centralia'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

Centralia is a small community located in Iowa, within Dubuque County. The total population is 117. It ranks as the 830th most populous out of 1,017 Census-designated places in Iowa.

Age Demographics

The median age in Centralia is 37.3 years. This is 3% lower than the state median of 38.6 years. With 29.9% of the population under 18, Centralia has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Centralia is $77,500. This is 3% higher than the state median of $75,059. It is also 4% lower than the national median of $80,734. The ACS records no residents below the poverty line in Centralia. In a community this small the estimate rests on very few survey responses, so it should be read as an absence of measurement rather than a measured absence of poverty. The unemployment rate is 1.4%. This is 60% lower than the state rate of 3.6%. The median home value is $223,100. Housing costs are 7% higher than the state median of $208,000. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.9x, Centralia is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 80.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 12% higher than the state average of 71.7%.

Race & Ethnicity

Every resident counted in Centralia was recorded as White (non-Hispanic). A figure of exactly 100.0% reflects a survey sample too small to capture the community's full composition rather than a precise measurement.

Education

28.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 10% 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 97.3%. Notably, 16.2% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Centralia, 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.