Hancock County, Iowa Demographics 2026

Name: Hancock County, Iowa Demographics
Creator: U.S. Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

Hancock County, Iowa has a population of 10,671, the 69th most populous county in Iowa. The median household income is $70,601 and the median home value is $141,400. The poverty rate is 12.2%.

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

Hancock County Quick Facts

Population 10,671

Median Household Income $70,601

Median Home Value $141,400

Poverty Rate 12.2%

Unemployment Rate 1.9%

Median Age 44.6 years

Homeownership Rate 82.5%

Affordability Ratio 2.0x

Bachelor's Degree+ 20.4%

High School Graduation 91.4%

Cities/Places 11

Population 10,671 69th of 99

Median Income $70,601 6% lower than state

Poverty Rate 12.2%

Unemployment 1.9%

How Hancock County 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	10,718	10,671	-0.4%
Median household income	$70,212	$70,601	+0.6%
Median home value	$129,300	$141,400	+9.4%

Median Household Income

Hancock

$70,601

$75,059

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

Hancock

$141,400

$208,000

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 13.9%

$25K-$50K 21.2%

$50K-$100K 33.7%

$100K+ 31.3%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

2.7%

$10K-$15K

4.4%

$15K-$20K

3.4%

$20K-$25K

3.4%

$25K-$30K

2.9%

$30K-$35K

4.2%

$35K-$40K

3.6%

$40K-$45K

4.3%

$45K-$50K

6.1%

$50K-$60K

6.9%

$60K-$75K

12.8%

$75K-$100K

14.0%

$100K-$125K

15.5%

$125K-$150K

6.2%

$150K-$200K

5.6%

$200K+

3.9%

Employment

1.9% Unemployment Rate State: 3.6%|National: 5.2%

63.2% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 82.5%

Renter 17.5%

Affordability Index Very Affordable

2.0x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $736/mo 12.5% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

21.0%

18-34

17.7%

35-54

23.5%

55-74

27.2%

75+

10.5%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

Very Low Diversity

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+)

Cities & Places in Hancock County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Forest City	4,290	$69,205	12.4%	$143,500
Garner	3,049	$70,726	11.5%	$186,300
Britt	1,882	$72,943	10.1%	$101,900
Kanawha	756	$68,250	8.7%	$77,600
Klemme	544	$59,256	13.4%	$77,900
Crystal Lake	283	$66,875	12.7%	$100,300
Goodell	268	$87,813	10.1%	$57,100
Corwith	249	$55,313	50.2%	$58,300
Woden	219	$50,000	32.4%	$76,000
Miller	25	N/A	0.0%	N/A
Duncan	21	N/A	57.1%	N/A

Explore Iowa Rankings

Cities by Population All cities ranked by size Richest Cities Ranked by median income Most Educated By bachelor's degree rate Most Affordable By housing affordability

Population Overview

Hancock County is located in Iowa with a total population of 10,671. It is the 69th most populous county out of 99 in Iowa. The county encompasses 11 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Hancock County is 44.6 years. This is 16% higher than the state median of 38.6 years. 10.5% 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 Hancock County is $70,601. This is 6% lower than the state median of $75,059. It is also 13% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 12.2%. This is 10% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.1%. The unemployment rate is 1.9%. This is 47% lower than the state rate of 3.6%. The median home value is $141,400. Housing costs are 32% lower than the state median of $208,000. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.0x, Hancock County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 82.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 15% higher than the state average of 71.7%.

Race & Ethnicity

Hancock County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 90.1% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 5.9%. The Black or African American population (0.4%) is well below the state average of 3.8%. The Asian population (0.9%) is well below the state average of 2.5%.

Education

20.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 35% 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 91.4%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Hancock 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 Hancock County, Iowa?

Hancock County has a population of 10,671, making it the 69th most populous county in Iowa.

What is the median income in Hancock County?

The median household income in Hancock County is $70,601 with a poverty rate of 12.2%.

How many cities are in Hancock County, Iowa?

Hancock County contains 11 Census-designated places.