Emmet County, Iowa Demographics 2026
Emmet County, Iowa has a population of 9,262, the 80th most populous county in Iowa. The median household income is $63,730 and the median home value is $114,100. The poverty rate is 10.0%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Emmet County Quick Facts
How Emmet County 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 | 9,316 | 9,262 | -0.6% |
| Median household income | $65,181 | $63,730 | -2.2% |
| Median home value | $106,200 | $114,100 | +7.4% |
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+)
Cities & Places in Emmet County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Estherville | 5,839 | $54,124 | 12.6% | $101,400 |
| Armstrong | 703 | $58,250 | 5.4% | $90,500 |
| Ringsted | 380 | $51,042 | 18.4% | $47,000 |
| Dolliver | 161 | $90,000 | 0.0% | $59,000 |
| Wallingford | 128 | $71,250 | 1.6% | $63,600 |
| Gruver | 30 | $58,750 | 0.0% | $75,000 |
Explore Iowa Rankings
Population Overview
Emmet County is located in Iowa with a total population of 9,262. It is the 80th most populous county out of 99 in Iowa. The county encompasses 6 Census-designated places.
Age Demographics
The median age in Emmet County is 42.9 years. This is 11% higher than the state median of 38.6 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Emmet County is $63,730. This is 15% lower than the state median of $75,059. It is also 21% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 10.0%. This is 10% lower than the state poverty rate of 11.1%. The unemployment rate is 1.7%. This is 53% lower than the state rate of 3.6%. The median home value is $114,100. Housing costs are 45% lower than the state median of $208,000. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.8x, Emmet County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 79.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 11% higher than the state average of 71.7%.
Race & Ethnicity
Emmet County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 85.2% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 10.2%. The Black or African American population (1.6%) is well below the state average of 3.8%. The Asian population (0.2%) is well below the state average of 2.5%.
Education
17.1% 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 46% 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 90.1%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All figures for Emmet County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against Iowa and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Emmet County, Iowa?
Emmet County has a population of 9,262, making it the 80th most populous county in Iowa.
What is the median income in Emmet County?
The median household income in Emmet County is $63,730 with a poverty rate of 10.0%.
How many cities are in Emmet County, Iowa?
Emmet County contains 6 Census-designated places.