Early, Iowa Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Early, Iowa had a total population of 869, the 324th largest city in Iowa, with a median household income of $91,370, which is 22% higher than the state average. The poverty rate is 8.8%.
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 1.0x.
- Unemployment rate of 11.5% is notably above the national average.
Early Quick Facts
How Early 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 | 757 | 869 | +14.8% |
| Median household income | $76,083 | $91,370 | +20.1% |
| Median home value | $83,500 | $90,300 | +8.1% |
How Early 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+)
Early Rankings in Iowa
Explore Iowa Rankings
Other Cities in Sac County
Cities Similar to Early
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Bend | 855 | $86,154 | $159,700 | 25.1% | 7.4% |
| Riverside | 890 | $84,091 | $183,700 | 27.2% | 2.3% |
| Elkhart | 899 | $84,554 | $253,900 | 28.1% | 11.7% |
| Maxwell | 905 | $97,639 | $184,600 | 28.9% | 4.1% |
| Merrill | 846 | $82,969 | $166,100 | 13.0% | 4.9% |
A note before these figures: with a population of 869, Early'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
Early is a small community located in Iowa, within Sac County. The total population is 869. It ranks as the 324th most populous out of 1,017 Census-designated places in Iowa.
Age Demographics
The median age in Early is 35.3 years. This is 9% lower than the state median of 38.6 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Early is $91,370. This is 22% higher than the state median of $75,059. It is also 13% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 8.8%. This is 20% lower than the state poverty rate of 11.1%. The unemployment rate is 11.5%. This is 221% higher than the state rate of 3.6%. The median home value is $90,300. Housing costs are 57% lower than the state median of $208,000. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.0x, Early is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 68.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 4% lower than the state average of 71.7%.
Race & Ethnicity
The largest racial or ethnic group in Early is White (non-Hispanic), making up 84.8% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 10.2%.
Education
12.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 60% 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 88.4%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Early, 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 Early, Iowa?
Early, Iowa has a population of 869 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Early, IA?
The median household income in Early is $91,370, which is 13% higher than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Early, IA?
The poverty rate in Early is 8.8%. This means approximately 76 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Early, Iowa?
Early's population is 84.8% White, 4.4% Black, 10.2% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.0% Asian.
What is the median home value in Early, IA?
The median home value in Early is $90,300. The home-value-to-income ratio is 1.0x.
How educated is Early, Iowa?
12.5% of adults (25+) in Early hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 2.3% hold a graduate or professional degree.