Howard County, Iowa Demographics 2026
Howard County, Iowa has a population of 9,445, the 79th most populous county in Iowa. The median household income is $67,446 and the median home value is $147,800. The poverty rate is 8.9%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Howard County Quick Facts
How Howard 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 | 9,459 | 9,445 | -0.1% |
| Median household income | $67,336 | $67,446 | +0.2% |
| Median home value | $133,900 | $147,800 | +10.4% |
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
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 Howard County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cresco | 3,908 | $60,608 | 13.4% | $117,200 |
| Elma | 659 | $44,375 | 18.8% | $81,300 |
| Lime Springs | 442 | $53,750 | 9.3% | $99,100 |
| Chester | 150 | $63,438 | 9.3% | $120,800 |
Explore Iowa Rankings
Population Overview
Howard County is located in Iowa with a total population of 9,445. It is the 79th most populous county out of 99 in Iowa. The county encompasses 4 Census-designated places.
Age Demographics
The median age in Howard County is 39.2 years. This is 2% higher than the state median of 38.6 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Howard County is $67,446. This is 10% lower than the state median of $75,059. It is also 16% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 8.9%. This is 19% lower than the state poverty rate of 11.1%. The unemployment rate is 1.8%. This is 48% lower than the state rate of 3.6%. The median home value is $147,800. Housing costs are 29% lower than the state median of $208,000. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.2x, Howard County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 77.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 8% higher than the state average of 71.7%.
Race & Ethnicity
Howard County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 93.0% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 3.3%. The Black or African American population (0.8%) is well below the state average of 3.8%. The Hispanic or Latino population (3.3%) is well below the state average of 7.3%. The Asian population (0.3%) is well below the state average of 2.5%.
Education
19.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 38% 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 92.5%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All figures for Howard 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 Howard County, Iowa?
Howard County has a population of 9,445, making it the 79th most populous county in Iowa.
What is the median income in Howard County?
The median household income in Howard County is $67,446 with a poverty rate of 8.9%.
How many cities are in Howard County, Iowa?
Howard County contains 4 Census-designated places.