Charter Oak, Iowa Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Charter Oak, Iowa had a total population of 580, the 434th largest city in Iowa, with a median household income of $53,042, which is 29% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 7.6%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- Only 7.6% of adults have a bachelor's degree, well below the national average of 35.7%.
- Housing is very affordable with a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.5x.
- Unemployment rate of 9.1% is notably above the national average.
Charter Oak Quick Facts
How Charter Oak 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 | 489 | 580 | +18.6% |
| Median household income | $58,068 | $53,042 | -8.7% |
| Median home value | $81,600 | $77,700 | -4.8% |
How Charter Oak 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+)
Charter Oak Rankings in Iowa
Explore Iowa Rankings
Other Cities in Crawford County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denison | 8,260 | $65,684 | 17.5% | $150,200 |
| Dunlap | 1,170 | $49,375 | 7.2% | $139,900 |
| Schleswig | 831 | $73,315 | 12.9% | $163,600 |
| Manilla | 630 | $65,156 | 6.2% | $88,300 |
| Vail | 527 | $70,625 | 29.4% | $87,800 |
| Dow City | 454 | $48,421 | 21.4% | $126,900 |
| Deloit | 309 | $40,625 | 17.5% | $96,600 |
| Westside | 308 | $83,558 | 1.0% | $147,200 |
| Kiron | 249 | $48,750 | 40.6% | $67,600 |
| Arion | 137 | $63,125 | 0.0% | $53,300 |
Cities Similar to Charter Oak
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fonda | 589 | $54,853 | $58,500 | 18.3% | 10.8% |
| Brighton | 588 | $50,481 | $92,900 | 8.1% | 29.7% |
| Garwin | 571 | $55,714 | $87,600 | 9.5% | 7.7% |
| Royal | 585 | $56,893 | $87,200 | 15.3% | 12.0% |
| What Cheer | 580 | $48,182 | $49,200 | 14.5% | 21.2% |
A note before these figures: with a population of 580, Charter Oak'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
Charter Oak is a small community located in Iowa, within Crawford County. The total population is 580. It ranks as the 434th most populous out of 1,017 Census-designated places in Iowa.
Age Demographics
The median age in Charter Oak is 43.4 years. This is 12% higher than the state median of 38.6 years. 17.6% 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 Charter Oak is $53,042. This is 29% lower than the state median of $75,059. It is also 34% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 7.6%. This is 31% lower than the state poverty rate of 11.1%. The unemployment rate is 9.1%. This is 155% higher than the state rate of 3.6%. The median home value is $77,700. Housing costs are 63% lower than the state median of $208,000. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.5x, Charter Oak is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 63.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 11% lower than the state average of 71.7%.
Race & Ethnicity
The largest racial or ethnic group in Charter Oak is White (non-Hispanic), making up 75.0% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 21.6%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (21.6% vs 7.3%).
Education
7.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 76% 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 94.6%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Charter Oak, 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 Charter Oak, Iowa?
Charter Oak, Iowa has a population of 580 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Charter Oak, IA?
The median household income in Charter Oak is $53,042, which is 34% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Charter Oak, IA?
The poverty rate in Charter Oak is 7.6%. This means approximately 44 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Charter Oak, Iowa?
Charter Oak's population is 75.0% White, 0.0% Black, 21.6% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.0% Asian.
What is the median home value in Charter Oak, IA?
The median home value in Charter Oak is $77,700. The home-value-to-income ratio is 1.5x.
How educated is Charter Oak, Iowa?
7.6% of adults (25+) in Charter Oak hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 3.7% hold a graduate or professional degree.