Dows, Iowa Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Dows, Iowa had a total population of 562, the 443rd largest city in Iowa, with a median household income of $78,000, which is 4% higher than the state average. The poverty rate is 7.2%.
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 0.8x.
- Near full employment with an unemployment rate of just 1.1%.
Dows Quick Facts
How Dows 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 | 544 | 562 | +3.3% |
| Median household income | $58,750 | $78,000 | +32.8% |
| Median home value | $56,200 | $59,800 | +6.4% |
How Dows 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+)
Dows Rankings in Iowa
Explore Iowa Rankings
Other Cities in Wright County
Cities Similar to Dows
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whittemore | 569 | $78,702 | $100,500 | 20.2% | 4.2% |
| Sabula | 547 | $77,656 | $133,300 | 7.4% | 9.4% |
| Zearing | 566 | $74,167 | $158,800 | 34.8% | 15.4% |
| Norway | 546 | $76,667 | $158,400 | 19.7% | 7.9% |
| New Virginia | 587 | $77,188 | $180,600 | 26.2% | 1.4% |
A note before these figures: with a population of 562, Dows'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
Dows is a small community located in Iowa, within Wright County. The total population is 562. It ranks as the 443rd most populous out of 1,017 Census-designated places in Iowa.
Age Demographics
The median age in Dows is 37.3 years. This is 3% lower than the state median of 38.6 years. With 34.2% of the population under 18, Dows has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Dows is $78,000. This is 4% higher than the state median of $75,059. It is also 3% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 7.2%. This is 35% lower than the state poverty rate of 11.1%. The unemployment rate is 1.1%. This is 68% lower than the state rate of 3.6%. The median home value is $59,800. Housing costs are 71% lower than the state median of $208,000. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 0.8x, Dows is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 75.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 5% higher than the state average of 71.7%.
Race & Ethnicity
Dows has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 93.1% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 6.0%.
Education
16.2% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 49% 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 97.7%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Dows, 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 Dows, Iowa?
Dows, Iowa has a population of 562 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Dows, IA?
The median household income in Dows is $78,000, which is 3% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Dows, IA?
The poverty rate in Dows is 7.2%. This means approximately 40 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Dows, Iowa?
Dows's population is 93.1% White, 0.0% Black, 6.0% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.0% Asian.
What is the median home value in Dows, IA?
The median home value in Dows is $59,800. The home-value-to-income ratio is 0.8x.
How educated is Dows, Iowa?
16.2% of adults (25+) in Dows hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 2.6% hold a graduate or professional degree.