Cushing, Iowa Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 243, Cushing'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

Cushing is a small community located in Iowa, within Woodbury County. The total population is 243. It ranks as the 662nd most populous out of 1,017 Census-designated places in Iowa.

Age Demographics

The median age in Cushing is 31.6 years. This is 18% lower than the state median of 38.6 years. With 32.9% of the population under 18, Cushing has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Cushing is $66,875. This is 11% lower than the state median of $75,059. It is also 17% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 24.3%. This is 119% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.1%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The survey records no unemployed residents in Cushing, which reflects the size of the sample rather than a labor market without joblessness. The median home value is $66,000. Housing costs are 68% lower than the state median of $208,000. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.0x, Cushing is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 69.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 3% lower than the state average of 71.7%.

Race & Ethnicity

Cushing has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 95.1% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 1.7%. The Hispanic or Latino population (1.7%) is well below the state average of 7.3%.

Education

15.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 51% 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 93.0%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Cushing, 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.