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Hamilton County, Iowa Demographics 2026

Hamilton County, Iowa has a population of 14,886, the 51st most populous county in Iowa. The median household income is $72,432 and the median home value is $156,400. The poverty rate is 7.4%.

Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes

Hamilton County Quick Facts

Population 14,886
Median Household Income $72,432
Median Home Value $156,400
Poverty Rate 7.4%
Unemployment Rate 4.9%
Median Age 41.7 years
Homeownership Rate 73.4%
Affordability Ratio 2.2x
Bachelor's Degree+ 22.8%
High School Graduation 94.3%
Cities/Places 8
Population 14,886 51st of 99
Median Income $72,432 3% lower than state
Poverty Rate 7.4%
Unemployment 4.9%

How Hamilton County Changed

Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.

Metric2019–20232020–2024Change
Population14,89314,886-0.0%
Median household income$71,750$72,432+1.0%
Median home value$132,300$156,400+18.2%

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 14.8%
$25K-$50K 19.9%
$50K-$100K 32.2%
$100K+ 33.2%
Detailed income brackets
Under $10K
5.4%
$10K-$15K
2.5%
$15K-$20K
2.5%
$20K-$25K
4.4%
$25K-$30K
2.6%
$30K-$35K
4.5%
$35K-$40K
3.0%
$40K-$45K
4.8%
$45K-$50K
5.0%
$50K-$60K
7.7%
$60K-$75K
9.4%
$75K-$100K
15.0%
$100K-$125K
12.5%
$125K-$150K
6.7%
$150K-$200K
5.7%
$200K+
8.3%

Employment

4.9% Unemployment Rate State: 3.6%|National: 5.2%
65.9% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 73.4%
Renter 26.6%
Affordability Index Very Affordable
2.2x home value to income ratio
Median gross rent $877/mo 14.5% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

29out of 100
Low Diversity

A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.

State average: 31 | National average: 61

Education

Cities & Places in Hamilton County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
Webster City7,769$63,4308.6%$127,200
Jewell Junction1,084$81,2506.6%$148,100
Stanhope509$60,75011.8%$111,300
Ellsworth482$77,5002.7%$149,000
Williams369$55,4179.5%$85,900
Kamrar145$48,7509.0%$73,800
Randall142$72,3217.8%$110,800
Blairsburg139$81,25013.7%$129,200

Population Overview

Hamilton County is located in Iowa with a total population of 14,886. It is the 51st most populous county out of 99 in Iowa. The county encompasses 8 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Hamilton County is 41.7 years. This is 8% higher than the state median of 38.6 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Hamilton County is $72,432. This is 3% lower than the state median of $75,059. It is also 10% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 7.4%. This is 33% lower than the state poverty rate of 11.1%. The unemployment rate is 4.9%. This is 35% higher than the state rate of 3.6%. The median home value is $156,400. Housing costs are 25% lower than the state median of $208,000. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.2x, Hamilton County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 73.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 2% higher than the state average of 71.7%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Hamilton County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 83.8% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 10.1%. The Black or African American population (1.0%) is well below the state average of 3.8%.

Education

22.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 28% 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 94.3%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Hamilton County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against Iowa and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Hamilton County, Iowa?

Hamilton County has a population of 14,886, making it the 51st most populous county in Iowa.

What is the median income in Hamilton County?

The median household income in Hamilton County is $72,432 with a poverty rate of 7.4%.

How many cities are in Hamilton County, Iowa?

Hamilton County contains 8 Census-designated places.