Grand River, Iowa Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 166, Grand River'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

Grand River is a small community located in Iowa, within Decatur County. The total population is 166. It ranks as the 741st most populous out of 1,017 Census-designated places in Iowa.

Age Demographics

The median age in Grand River is 47.5 years. This is 23% higher than the state median of 38.6 years. Only 10.2% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 18.1% 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 Grand River is $40,156. This is 47% lower than the state median of $75,059. It is also 50% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 19.3%. This is 74% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.1%. The unemployment rate is 1.4%. This is 62% lower than the state rate of 3.6%. The median home value is $40,000. Housing costs are 81% lower than the state median of $208,000. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.0x, Grand River is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 73.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 2% higher than the state average of 71.7%.

Race & Ethnicity

Every resident counted in Grand River was recorded as White (non-Hispanic). A figure of exactly 100.0% reflects a survey sample too small to capture the community's full composition rather than a precise measurement.

Education

14.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 56% 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 96.1%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Grand River, 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.