Diagonal, Iowa Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Diagonal, Iowa had a total population of 454, the 490th largest city in Iowa, with a median household income of $74,375, which is about the same as the state average. The poverty rate is 7.3%.
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 1.2x.
Diagonal Quick Facts
How Diagonal 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 | 481 | 454 | -5.6% |
| Median household income | $80,417 | $74,375 | -7.5% |
| Median home value | $84,400 | $91,500 | +8.4% |
How Diagonal 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+)
Diagonal Rankings in Iowa
Explore Iowa Rankings
Other Cities in Ringgold County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mount Ayr | 1,816 | $74,167 | 10.9% | $152,000 |
| Kellerton | 286 | $46,875 | 15.4% | $59,200 |
| Sun Valley Lake | 163 | $135,521 | 0.0% | $637,000 |
| Tingley | 128 | $62,083 | 7.0% | $75,000 |
| Redding | 51 | $73,750 | 7.8% | N/A |
| Maloy | 30 | $59,750 | 0.0% | N/A |
| Ellston | 28 | $69,167 | 3.6% | N/A |
| Benton | 27 | $51,250 | 0.0% | N/A |
| Beaconsfield | 8 | N/A | 0.0% | N/A |
| Delphos | 4 | N/A | 25.0% | N/A |
Cities Similar to Diagonal
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orient | 448 | $73,750 | $113,100 | 11.2% | 12.7% |
| Titonka | 452 | $72,250 | $65,800 | 14.0% | 8.2% |
| Galva | 447 | $73,750 | $80,400 | 17.9% | 21.7% |
| Badger | 433 | $72,750 | $142,800 | 25.8% | 5.1% |
| Birmingham | 454 | $65,000 | $96,300 | 12.1% | 13.1% |
A note before these figures: with a population of 454, Diagonal'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
Diagonal is a small community located in Iowa, within Ringgold County. The total population is 454. It ranks as the 490th most populous out of 1,017 Census-designated places in Iowa.
Age Demographics
The median age in Diagonal is 49.2 years. This is 27% higher than the state median of 38.6 years. 23.6% 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 Diagonal is $74,375. This is about the same as the state median of $75,059. It is also 8% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 7.3%. This is 34% lower than the state poverty rate of 11.1%. The unemployment rate is 4.5%. This is 25% higher than the state rate of 3.6%. The median home value is $91,500. Housing costs are 56% lower than the state median of $208,000. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.2x, Diagonal is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 90.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 26% higher than the state average of 71.7%.
Race & Ethnicity
The largest racial or ethnic group in Diagonal is White (non-Hispanic), making up 83.7% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 3.7%.
Education
18.3% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 42% 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 87.5%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Diagonal, 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 Diagonal, Iowa?
Diagonal, Iowa has a population of 454 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Diagonal, IA?
The median household income in Diagonal is $74,375, which is 8% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Diagonal, IA?
The poverty rate in Diagonal is 7.3%. This means approximately 26 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Diagonal, Iowa?
Diagonal's population is 83.7% White, 0.0% Black, 3.7% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.0% Asian.
What is the median home value in Diagonal, IA?
The median home value in Diagonal is $91,500. The home-value-to-income ratio is 1.2x.
How educated is Diagonal, Iowa?
18.3% of adults (25+) in Diagonal hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 4.0% hold a graduate or professional degree.