Garnavillo, Iowa Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 816, Garnavillo'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

Garnavillo is a small community located in Iowa, within Clayton County. The total population is 816. It ranks as the 343rd most populous out of 1,017 Census-designated places in Iowa.

Age Demographics

The median age in Garnavillo is 43.7 years. This is 13% higher than the state median of 38.6 years. 13.1% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Garnavillo is $75,357. This is about the same as the state median of $75,059. It is also 7% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 12.3%. This is 11% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.1%. The unemployment rate is 1.6%. This is 56% lower than the state rate of 3.6%. The median home value is $123,100. Housing costs are 41% lower than the state median of $208,000. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.6x, Garnavillo is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 84.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 18% higher than the state average of 71.7%.

Race & Ethnicity

Garnavillo has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 96.3% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 2.0%. The Hispanic or Latino population (2.0%) is well below the state average of 7.3%.

Education

15.2% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 52% 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 95.2%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Garnavillo, 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.