Cerro Gordo County, Iowa Demographics 2026

Name: Cerro Gordo County, Iowa Demographics
Creator: U.S. Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

Cerro Gordo County, Iowa has a population of 42,632, the 13th most populous county in Iowa. The median household income is $68,189 and the median home value is $166,400. The poverty rate is 10.6%.

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

Cerro Gordo County Quick Facts

Population 42,632

Median Household Income $68,189

Median Home Value $166,400

Poverty Rate 10.6%

Unemployment Rate 2.6%

Median Age 44.0 years

Homeownership Rate 70.3%

Affordability Ratio 2.4x

Bachelor's Degree+ 24.0%

High School Graduation 94.8%

Cities/Places 13

Population 42,632 13th of 99

Median Income $68,189 9% lower than state

Poverty Rate 10.6%

Unemployment 2.6%

How Cerro Gordo County 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	42,785	42,632	-0.4%
Median household income	$65,537	$68,189	+4.0%
Median home value	$154,100	$166,400	+8.0%

Median Household Income

Cerro Gordo

$68,189

$75,059

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

Cerro Gordo

$166,400

$208,000

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 15.5%

$25K-$50K 21.9%

$50K-$100K 31.1%

$100K+ 31.5%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

3.0%

$10K-$15K

4.4%

$15K-$20K

3.5%

$20K-$25K

4.6%

$25K-$30K

4.1%

$30K-$35K

4.7%

$35K-$40K

4.4%

$40K-$45K

4.5%

$45K-$50K

4.3%

$50K-$60K

6.3%

$60K-$75K

10.9%

$75K-$100K

13.9%

$100K-$125K

11.5%

$125K-$150K

5.5%

$150K-$200K

7.3%

$200K+

7.2%

Employment

2.6% Unemployment Rate State: 3.6%|National: 5.2%

63.1% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 70.3%

Renter 29.6%

Affordability Index Very Affordable

2.4x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $850/mo 15.0% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

20.8%

18-34

18.7%

35-54

22.5%

55-74

28.2%

75+

9.9%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

Very Low Diversity

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+)

Cities & Places in Cerro Gordo County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Mason City	27,050	$64,804	12.0%	$142,000
Clear Lake	7,607	$79,415	8.3%	$259,500
Nora Springs	1,363	$78,594	5.3%	$134,500
Rockwell	986	$60,982	14.8%	$163,300
Ventura	733	$91,944	5.7%	$389,500
Thornton	514	$67,031	9.3%	$115,500
Plymouth	407	$80,000	13.0%	$125,700
Meservey	262	$46,750	31.7%	$50,800
Swaledale	148	$51,912	4.7%	$62,900
Rock Falls	119	$71,042	5.9%	$156,300
Dougherty	88	$45,500	8.0%	$50,000
Portland	29	N/A	0.0%	N/A
Burchinal	6	N/A	0.0%	N/A

Explore Iowa Rankings

Cities by Population All cities ranked by size Richest Cities Ranked by median income Most Educated By bachelor's degree rate Most Affordable By housing affordability

Population Overview

Cerro Gordo County is located in Iowa with a total population of 42,632. It is the 13th most populous county out of 99 in Iowa. The county encompasses 13 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Cerro Gordo County is 44.0 years. This is 14% higher than the state median of 38.6 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Cerro Gordo County is $68,189. This is 9% lower than the state median of $75,059. It is also 16% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 10.6%. This is 5% lower than the state poverty rate of 11.1%. The unemployment rate is 2.6%. This is 27% lower than the state rate of 3.6%. The median home value is $166,400. Housing costs are 20% lower than the state median of $208,000. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.4x, Cerro Gordo County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 70.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 2% lower than the state average of 71.7%.

Race & Ethnicity

Cerro Gordo County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 88.2% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 5.6%. The Asian population (1.2%) is well below the state average of 2.5%.

Education

24.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 24% 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 94.8%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Cerro Gordo County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against Iowa and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Cerro Gordo County, Iowa?

Cerro Gordo County has a population of 42,632, making it the 13th most populous county in Iowa.

What is the median income in Cerro Gordo County?

The median household income in Cerro Gordo County is $68,189 with a poverty rate of 10.6%.

How many cities are in Cerro Gordo County, Iowa?

Cerro Gordo County contains 13 Census-designated places.