Decatur County, Iowa Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Decatur County is located in Iowa with a total population of 7,669. It is the 86th most populous county out of 99 in Iowa. The county encompasses 2 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Decatur County is 36.2 years. This is 6% lower than the state median of 38.6 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Decatur County is $57,146. This is 22% lower than the state median of $73,147. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 27% lower. The poverty rate stands at 15.2%. This is 38% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.0%. The unemployment rate is 3.2%. This is 11% lower than the state rate of 3.6%. The median home value is $109,500. Housing costs are 44% lower than the state median of $195,900. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.9x, Decatur County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 68.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 5% lower than the state average of 71.5%.

Race & Ethnicity

Decatur County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 90.9% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 3.3%. The Black or African American population (1.6%) is well below the state average of 3.8%. The Hispanic or Latino population (3.3%) is well below the state average of 7.0%. The Asian population (0.5%) is well below the state average of 2.4%.

Education

24.3% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 21% lower than the state rate of 30.9%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 89.0%.