Dow City city, Iowa Demographics & Population 2026

Name: Dow City city, Iowa Demographics
Creator: U.S. Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

As of 2026, Dow City city, Iowa has a total population of 384, the 540th largest city in Iowa, with a median household income of $46,932, which is 36% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 15.1%.

Key Takeaways

Household income is 36% below the state average, indicating significant economic challenges.
Only 3.9% of adults have a bachelor's degree, well below the national average of 35.0%.
Near full employment with an unemployment rate of just 0.9%.

Dow City city Quick Facts

Population 384

Median Household Income $46,932

Median Home Value $130,200

Poverty Rate 15.1%

Unemployment Rate 0.9%

Median Age 48.3 years

Homeownership Rate 69.8%

Affordability Ratio 2.8x

Bachelor's Degree or Higher 3.9%

High School Graduation Rate 92.7%

Diversity Index 34/100

Population 384 540th of 1,018

Median Income $46,932 bottom 10%

Poverty Rate 15.1% 21% higher national

Median Home Value $130,200 above average

How Dow City city Compares

Median Household Income

Dow City city

$46,932

$73,147

National

$78,538

Median Home Value

Dow City city

$130,200

$195,900

National

$303,400

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 13.0%

$25K-$50K 38.5%

$50K-$100K 23.1%

$100K+ 25.4%

Employment

0.9% Unemployment Rate State: 3.6% | National: 5.2%

72.5% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 69.8%

Renter 30.2%

Affordability Index Very Affordable

2.8x home value to income ratio

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

15.9%

18-34

24.5%

35-54

18.8%

55-74

31.8%

75+

9.1%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

Low Diversity

A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.

State average: 30 | National average: 60

Education

Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)

Dow City city Rankings in Iowa

#540 Population of 1,018

#859 Median Income of 1,018

#935 Education of 1,018

#377 Home Value of 1,018

Explore Iowa Rankings

Cities by Population All cities ranked by size Richest Cities Ranked by median income Most Educated By bachelor's degree rate Most Affordable By housing affordability

Cities Similar to Dow City city

These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.

City	Population	Median Income	Home Value	Bachelor's+	Poverty
Casey city	387	$51,250	$90,000	18.9%	28.7%
Lorimor city	375	$43,281	$67,900	4.5%	25.3%
Lost Nation city	393	$51,000	$74,500	18.1%	10.6%
Farmersburg city	364	$48,542	$79,000	5.9%	17.0%
Bayard city	399	$43,750	$57,700	3.3%	31.5%

Population Overview

Dow City city is a small community located in Iowa. The total population is 384. It ranks as the 540th most populous out of 1,018 cities and towns in Iowa.

Age Demographics

The median age in Dow City city is 48.3 years. This is 25% higher than the state median of 38.6 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Dow City city is $46,932. This is 36% lower than the state median of $73,147. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 40% lower. The poverty rate stands at 15.1%. This is 37% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.0%. The unemployment rate is 0.9%. This is 77% lower than the state rate of 3.6%. The median home value is $130,200. Housing costs are 34% lower than the state median of $195,900. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.8x, Dow City city is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 69.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 2% lower than the state average of 71.5%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Dow City city is White (non-Hispanic), making up 79.7% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 14.1%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (14.1% vs 7.0%).

Education

3.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is among the lowest rates in the state, which may correlate with employment and income patterns. This is 88% 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 92.7%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Dow City city, Iowa is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually, providing reliable estimates for communities of all sizes. Comparisons are made against Iowa state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 1,018 Census-designated places in Iowa. For official data, visit data.census.gov.

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 Dow City city, Iowa?

Dow City city, Iowa has a population of 384 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What is the median household income in Dow City city, IA?

The median household income in Dow City city is $46,932, which is 40% lower the national median of $78,538.

What is the poverty rate in Dow City city, IA?

The poverty rate in Dow City city is 15.1%. This means approximately 58 residents live below the federal poverty line.

What is the racial makeup of Dow City city, Iowa?

Dow City city's population is 79.7% White, 0.0% Black, 14.1% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.0% Asian.

What is the median home value in Dow City city, IA?

The median home value in Dow City city is $130,200. The home-value-to-income ratio is 2.8x.

How educated is Dow City city, Iowa?

3.9% of adults (25+) in Dow City city hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 0.0% hold a graduate or professional degree.