Dougherty, Iowa Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 88, Dougherty'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

Dougherty is a small community located in Iowa, within Cerro Gordo County. The total population is 88. It ranks as the 875th most populous out of 1,017 Census-designated places in Iowa.

Age Demographics

The median age in Dougherty is 29.5 years. This is 24% lower than the state median of 38.6 years. With 38.6% of the population under 18, Dougherty has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community. 12.5% 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 Dougherty is $45,500. This is 39% lower than the state median of $75,059. It is also 44% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 8.0%. This is 28% lower than the state poverty rate of 11.1%. The survey records no unemployed residents in Dougherty, which reflects the size of the sample rather than a labor market without joblessness. The median home value is $50,000. Housing costs are 76% lower than the state median of $208,000. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.1x, Dougherty is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 100.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 39% higher than the state average of 71.7%.

Race & Ethnicity

Dougherty has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 88.6% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 9.1%.

Education

19.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 38% 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 98.0%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Dougherty, 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.