Garden Grove, Iowa Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Garden Grove, Iowa had a total population of 171, the 734th largest city in Iowa, with a median household income of $34,000, which is 55% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 22.2%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- Household income is 55% below the state average, indicating significant economic challenges.
- Housing is very affordable with a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.4x.
Garden Grove Quick Facts
How Garden Grove 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 | 178 | 171 | -3.9% |
| Median household income | $53,750 | $34,000 | -36.7% |
| Median home value | $48,600 | $46,100 | -5.1% |
How Garden Grove 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 Grove Rankings in Iowa
Explore Iowa Rankings
Other Cities in Decatur County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lamoni | 2,207 | $54,554 | 16.6% | $113,400 |
| Leon | 1,899 | $54,231 | 10.7% | $99,800 |
| Van Wert | 188 | $74,375 | 5.3% | $66,800 |
| Grand River | 166 | $40,156 | 19.3% | $40,000 |
| Davis City | 160 | $36,833 | 20.0% | $54,300 |
| Weldon | 88 | $51,875 | 5.7% | N/A |
| Pleasanton | 61 | N/A | 0.0% | $210,700 |
| Le Roy | 19 | $56,875 | 5.3% | N/A |
Cities Similar to Garden Grove
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bradford | 178 | N/A | N/A | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Wadena | 177 | $38,750 | $94,200 | 13.7% | 27.8% |
| Bentley | 189 | N/A | $188,900 | 63.7% | 6.3% |
| Davis City | 160 | $36,833 | $54,300 | 3.8% | 20.0% |
| Grand River | 166 | $40,156 | $40,000 | 14.0% | 19.3% |
A note before these figures: with a population of 171, Garden Grove'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 Grove is a small community located in Iowa, within Decatur County. The total population is 171. It ranks as the 734th most populous out of 1,017 Census-designated places in Iowa.
Age Demographics
The median age in Garden Grove is 50.4 years. This is 31% higher than the state median of 38.6 years. Only 14.6% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Garden Grove is $34,000. This is 55% lower than the state median of $75,059. It is also 58% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 22.2%. This is 101% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.1%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 5.1%. This is 43% higher than the state rate of 3.6%. The median home value is $46,100. Housing costs are 78% lower than the state median of $208,000. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.4x, Garden Grove is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 86.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 21% higher than the state average of 71.7%.
Race & Ethnicity
Garden Grove has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 97.7% of all residents.
Education
17.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 43% 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 89.9%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Garden Grove, 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 Grove, Iowa?
Garden Grove, Iowa has a population of 171 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Garden Grove, IA?
The median household income in Garden Grove is $34,000, which is 58% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Garden Grove, IA?
The poverty rate in Garden Grove is 22.2%. This means approximately 38 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Garden Grove, Iowa?
Garden Grove's population is 97.7% White, 0.0% Black, 0.0% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.0% Asian.
What is the median home value in Garden Grove, IA?
The median home value in Garden Grove is $46,100. The home-value-to-income ratio is 1.4x.
How educated is Garden Grove, Iowa?
17.8% of adults (25+) in Garden Grove hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 14.7% hold a graduate or professional degree.