Garden City, Iowa Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Garden City, Iowa had a total population of 36, the 968th largest community in Iowa. The poverty rate is 0.0%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- Unemployment rate of 14.3% is notably above the national average.
Garden City Quick Facts
How Garden City 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 | 67 | 36 | -46.3% |
| Median home value | $61,100 | $110,200 | +80.4% |
How Garden City 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+)
Garden City Rankings in Iowa
Explore Iowa Rankings
Other Cities in Hardin County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa Falls | 5,038 | $50,417 | 10.7% | $123,800 |
| Eldora | 2,617 | $77,188 | 12.0% | $133,000 |
| Ackley | 1,482 | $62,583 | 7.5% | $103,900 |
| Alden | 833 | $64,500 | 17.5% | $107,900 |
| Hubbard | 773 | $68,750 | 5.6% | $106,100 |
| Radcliffe | 657 | $69,286 | 7.9% | $118,300 |
| Union | 378 | $55,625 | 6.6% | $74,600 |
| Steamboat Rock | 312 | $47,188 | 6.1% | $105,800 |
| New Providence | 173 | $86,667 | 7.6% | $82,500 |
| Whitten | 164 | $92,813 | 2.4% | $90,000 |
Cities Similar to Garden City
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coburg | 36 | $33,750 | N/A | 0.0% | 36.1% |
| High Amana | 36 | N/A | N/A | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Mount Sterling | 36 | N/A | N/A | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Anderson | 37 | N/A | N/A | 19.4% | 0.0% |
| Conway | 35 | $21,771 | $23,300 | 0.0% | 8.6% |
A note before these figures: with a population of 36, Garden City'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
Garden City is a small community located in Iowa, within Hardin County. The total population is 36. It ranks as the 968th most populous out of 1,017 Census-designated places in Iowa.
Age Demographics
The median age in Garden City is 71.6 years. This is 85% higher than the state median of 38.6 years. 33.3% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.
Economy, Income & Housing
The ACS records no residents below the poverty line in Garden City. In a community this small the estimate rests on very few survey responses, so it should be read as an absence of measurement rather than a measured absence of poverty. The unemployment rate is 14.3%. This is 299% higher than the state rate of 3.6%. The median home value is $110,200. Housing costs are 47% lower than the state median of $208,000. 100.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 39% higher than the state average of 71.7%.
Race & Ethnicity
Garden City has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 91.7% of all residents.
Education
22.2% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 29% lower than the state rate of 31.4%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. No surveyed resident aged 25 or older reported leaving school before earning a high school diploma, though a rate of exactly 100% reflects the limits of a small sample.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Garden City, 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 Garden City, Iowa?
Garden City, Iowa has a population of 36 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Garden City, IA?
The Census Bureau does not publish a reliable median household income estimate for Garden City — the community is too small for the ACS sample. The national median is $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Garden City, IA?
The ACS sample for Garden City recorded no residents below the federal poverty line. Because the community is small, this indicates that the survey did not capture poverty here rather than that no poverty exists — the estimate carries a wide margin of error.
What is the racial makeup of Garden City, Iowa?
Garden City's population is 91.7% White, 0.0% Black, 0.0% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.0% Asian.
What is the median home value in Garden City, IA?
The median home value in Garden City is $110,200.
How educated is Garden City, Iowa?
22.2% of adults (25+) in Garden City hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 0.0% hold a graduate or professional degree.