Cherokee County, Iowa Demographics 2026

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

Cherokee County, Iowa has a population of 11,600, the 66th most populous county in Iowa. The median household income is $71,269 and the median home value is $158,700. The poverty rate is 12.1%.

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

Cherokee County Quick Facts

Population 11,600

Median Household Income $71,269

Median Home Value $158,700

Poverty Rate 12.1%

Unemployment Rate 2.5%

Median Age 44.0 years

Homeownership Rate 75.5%

Affordability Ratio 2.2x

Bachelor's Degree+ 23.4%

High School Graduation 93.2%

Cities/Places 8

Population 11,600 66th of 99

Median Income $71,269 5% lower than state

Poverty Rate 12.1%

Unemployment 2.5%

How Cherokee 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	11,587	11,600	+0.1%
Median household income	$64,478	$71,269	+10.5%
Median home value	$145,100	$158,700	+9.4%

Median Household Income

Cherokee

$71,269

$75,059

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

Cherokee

$158,700

$208,000

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 15.8%

$25K-$50K 19.6%

$50K-$100K 32.0%

$100K+ 32.5%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

3.9%

$10K-$15K

5.5%

$15K-$20K

3.3%

$20K-$25K

3.2%

$25K-$30K

3.9%

$30K-$35K

4.5%

$35K-$40K

4.4%

$40K-$45K

1.8%

$45K-$50K

5.1%

$50K-$60K

6.9%

$60K-$75K

10.3%

$75K-$100K

14.8%

$100K-$125K

9.2%

$125K-$150K

6.7%

$150K-$200K

9.3%

$200K+

7.4%

Employment

2.5% Unemployment Rate State: 3.6%|National: 5.2%

66.2% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 75.5%

Renter 24.5%

Affordability Index Very Affordable

2.2x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $758/mo 12.8% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

22.2%

18-34

16.5%

35-54

22.1%

55-74

27.9%

75+

11.3%

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 Cherokee County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Cherokee	5,154	$61,750	18.5%	$136,700
Marcus	1,180	$77,981	5.3%	$200,000
Aurelia	991	$71,500	4.5%	$139,900
Quimby	286	$54,375	13.6%	$62,100
Cleghorn	271	$65,625	6.6%	$98,800
Washta	180	$46,979	9.4%	$48,600
Larrabee	147	$50,769	6.8%	$57,100
Meriden	138	$55,333	4.3%	$74,000

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

Cherokee County is located in Iowa with a total population of 11,600. It is the 66th most populous county out of 99 in Iowa. The county encompasses 8 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Cherokee County is 44.0 years. This is 14% higher than the state median of 38.6 years. 11.3% 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 Cherokee County is $71,269. This is 5% lower than the state median of $75,059. It is also 12% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 12.1%. This is 9% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.1%. The unemployment rate is 2.5%. This is 30% lower than the state rate of 3.6%. The median home value is $158,700. Housing costs are 24% lower than the state median of $208,000. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.2x, Cherokee County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 75.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 5% higher than the state average of 71.7%.

Race & Ethnicity

Cherokee County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 88.6% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 5.3%. The Black or African American population (1.0%) is well below the state average of 3.8%. The Asian population (0.4%) is well below the state average of 2.5%.

Education

23.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 25% 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 93.2%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Cherokee 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 Cherokee County, Iowa?

Cherokee County has a population of 11,600, making it the 66th most populous county in Iowa.

What is the median income in Cherokee County?

The median household income in Cherokee County is $71,269 with a poverty rate of 12.1%.

How many cities are in Cherokee County, Iowa?

Cherokee County contains 8 Census-designated places.