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Dubuque city, Iowa Demographics & Population 2026

As of 2026, Dubuque city, Iowa has a total population of 59,271, the 11th largest city in Iowa, with a median household income of $64,985, which is 11% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 12.2%.

Dubuque city Quick Facts

Population 59,271
Median Household Income $64,985
Median Home Value $193,100
Poverty Rate 12.2%
Unemployment Rate 4.4%
Median Age 38.3 years
Homeownership Rate 64.8%
Affordability Ratio 3.0x
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 33.6%
High School Graduation Rate 93.6%
Diversity Index 26/100
Population 59,271 11th of 1,018
Median Income $64,985 average
Poverty Rate 12.2% 2% lower national
Median Home Value $193,100 top 20%

How Dubuque city Compares

Economy & Housing

Employment

4.4% Unemployment Rate State: 3.6% | National: 5.2%
64.9% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 64.8%
Renter 35.2%
Affordability Index Affordable
3.0x home value to income ratio

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

26out of 100
Low Diversity

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

State average: 30 | National average: 60

Education

Dubuque city Rankings in Iowa

#11 Population of 1,018
#473 Median Income of 1,018
#109 Education of 1,018
#147 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 Dubuque city

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

CityPopulationMedian IncomeHome ValueBachelor's+Poverty
Council Bluffs city62,564$64,092$164,30021.7%13.2%
Ames city66,112$60,102$263,80063.5%25.9%
Waterloo city66,947$56,344$150,20022.6%16.4%
West Des Moines city69,893$84,925$286,30054.6%7.3%
Iowa City city75,264$57,533$273,60060.7%26.3%

Population Overview

Dubuque city is a mid-sized community located in Iowa, within Dubuque County. The total population is 59,271. It ranks as the 11th most populous out of 1,018 cities and towns in Iowa.

Age Demographics

The median age in Dubuque city is 38.3 years. This is about average than the state median of 38.6 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Dubuque city is $64,985. This is 11% lower than the state median of $73,147. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 17% lower. The poverty rate stands at 12.2%. This is 11% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.0%. The unemployment rate is 4.4%. This is 22% higher than the state rate of 3.6%. The median home value is $193,100. Housing costs are 1% lower than the state median of $195,900. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.0x. 64.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 9% lower than the state average of 71.5%.

Race & Ethnicity

Dubuque city has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 85.4% of all residents. Black or African American residents account for 4.2%. The Hispanic or Latino population (3.4%) is well below the state average of 7.0%.

Education

33.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 9% higher 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 93.6%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Dubuque 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 Dubuque city, Iowa?

Dubuque city, Iowa has a population of 59,271 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What is the median household income in Dubuque city, IA?

The median household income in Dubuque city is $64,985, which is 17% lower the national median of $78,538.

What is the poverty rate in Dubuque city, IA?

The poverty rate in Dubuque city is 12.2%. This means approximately 6,808 residents live below the federal poverty line.

What is the racial makeup of Dubuque city, Iowa?

Dubuque city's population is 85.4% White, 4.2% Black, 3.4% Hispanic/Latino, and 1.5% Asian.

What is the median home value in Dubuque city, IA?

The median home value in Dubuque city is $193,100. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.0x.

How educated is Dubuque city, Iowa?

33.6% of adults (25+) in Dubuque city hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 11.7% hold a graduate or professional degree.