Denison, Iowa Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Denison, Iowa had a total population of 8,260, the 49th largest city in Iowa, with a median household income of $65,684, which is 12% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 17.5%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- Housing is very affordable with a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.3x.
Denison Quick Facts
How Denison 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 | 8,247 | 8,260 | +0.2% |
| Median household income | $63,850 | $65,684 | +2.9% |
| Median home value | $137,600 | $150,200 | +9.2% |
How Denison 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 diverse community with significant representation from multiple racial and ethnic groups.
State average: 31 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Denison Rankings in Iowa
Explore Iowa Rankings
Other Cities in Crawford County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Charter Oak | 580 | $53,042 | 7.6% | $77,700 |
| 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 Denison
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perry | 7,985 | $68,910 | $121,400 | 17.0% | 8.9% |
| Webster City | 7,769 | $63,430 | $127,200 | 23.2% | 8.6% |
| Decorah | 7,535 | $64,366 | $244,500 | 42.2% | 8.1% |
| Mount Pleasant | 8,951 | $61,042 | $160,900 | 23.2% | 15.7% |
| Knoxville | 7,473 | $61,599 | $160,300 | 30.6% | 12.5% |
Population Overview
Denison is a small city located in Iowa, within Crawford County. The total population is 8,260. It ranks as the 49th most populous out of 1,017 Census-designated places in Iowa.
Age Demographics
The median age in Denison is 34.3 years. This is 11% lower than the state median of 38.6 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Denison is $65,684. This is 12% lower than the state median of $75,059. It is also 19% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 17.5%. This is 58% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.1%. The unemployment rate is 5.4%. This is 51% higher than the state rate of 3.6%. The median home value is $150,200. Housing costs are 28% lower than the state median of $208,000. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.3x, Denison is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 71.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied.
Race & Ethnicity
The largest racial or ethnic group in Denison is Hispanic or Latino, making up 48.8% of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 42.9%. The Black or African American population (1.5%) is well below the state average of 3.8%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (48.8% vs 7.3%).
Education
17.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 44% 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 74.3%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Denison, 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.
Free data download: Get all Iowa city and county demographics as CSV. Download Cities CSV | Download Counties CSV
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Denison, Iowa?
Denison, Iowa has a population of 8,260 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Denison, IA?
The median household income in Denison is $65,684, which is 19% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Denison, IA?
The poverty rate in Denison is 17.5%. This means approximately 1,423 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Denison, Iowa?
Denison's population is 42.9% White, 1.5% Black, 48.8% Hispanic/Latino, and 3.3% Asian.
What is the median home value in Denison, IA?
The median home value in Denison is $150,200. The home-value-to-income ratio is 2.3x.
How educated is Denison, Iowa?
17.5% of adults (25+) in Denison hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 4.6% hold a graduate or professional degree.