Gray, Iowa Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 70, Gray'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

Gray is a small community located in Iowa, within Audubon County. The total population is 70. It ranks as the 910th most populous out of 1,017 Census-designated places in Iowa.

Age Demographics

The median age in Gray is 20.0 years. This is 48% lower than the state median of 38.6 years. With 50.0% of the population under 18, Gray has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Gray is $59,250. This is 21% lower than the state median of $75,059. It is also 27% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 13.2%. This is 19% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.1%. The survey records no unemployed residents in Gray, which reflects the size of the sample rather than a labor market without joblessness. The median home value is $53,300. Housing costs are 74% lower than the state median of $208,000. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 0.9x, Gray is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 78.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 9% higher than the state average of 71.7%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Gray is White (non-Hispanic), making up 80.0% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 18.6%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (18.6% vs 3.8%). The Hispanic or Latino population (1.4%) is well below the state average of 7.3%.

Education

3.5% 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 89% 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 96.5%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Gray, 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.