Skip to main content

Humboldt County, Iowa Demographics 2026

Humboldt County, Iowa has a population of 9,591, the 78th most populous county in Iowa. The median household income is $71,946 and the median home value is $155,800. The poverty rate is 12.9%.

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

Humboldt County Quick Facts

Population 9,591
Median Household Income $71,946
Median Home Value $155,800
Poverty Rate 12.9%
Unemployment Rate 5.0%
Median Age 42.1 years
Homeownership Rate 77.1%
Affordability Ratio 2.2x
Bachelor's Degree+ 19.4%
High School Graduation 93.2%
Cities/Places 11
Population 9,591 78th of 99
Median Income $71,946 4% lower than state
Poverty Rate 12.9%
Unemployment 5.0%

How Humboldt 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
Population9,5739,591+0.2%
Median household income$66,994$71,946+7.4%
Median home value$146,900$155,800+6.1%

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 17.2%
$25K-$50K 17.8%
$50K-$100K 33.9%
$100K+ 31.1%
Detailed income brackets
Under $10K
6.7%
$10K-$15K
2.4%
$15K-$20K
4.7%
$20K-$25K
3.4%
$25K-$30K
3.1%
$30K-$35K
4.3%
$35K-$40K
2.1%
$40K-$45K
4.0%
$45K-$50K
4.4%
$50K-$60K
9.0%
$60K-$75K
8.7%
$75K-$100K
16.1%
$100K-$125K
9.2%
$125K-$150K
6.6%
$150K-$200K
7.3%
$200K+
7.9%

Employment

5.0% Unemployment Rate State: 3.6%|National: 5.2%
64.1% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 77.1%
Renter 22.9%
Affordability Index Very Affordable
2.2x home value to income ratio
Median gross rent $744/mo 12.4% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

18out of 100
Very 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 Humboldt County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
Humboldt4,771$74,50015.9%$173,600
Dakota City752$60,4176.3%$119,800
Gilmore City748$53,37512.7%$83,900
Livermore416$66,25019.0%$71,500
Bode379$59,5319.8%$75,700
Thor257$57,30531.5%$101,800
Renwick229$52,1259.2%$81,100
Rutland120$85,6250.8%$50,000
Bradgate104N/A13.5%$43,100
Ottosen31$41,66722.6%$50,000
Hardy10N/A10.0%N/A

Population Overview

Humboldt County is located in Iowa with a total population of 9,591. It is the 78th most populous county out of 99 in Iowa. The county encompasses 11 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Humboldt County is 42.1 years. This is 9% higher than the state median of 38.6 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Humboldt County is $71,946. This is 4% lower than the state median of $75,059. It is also 11% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 12.9%. This is 16% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.1%. The unemployment rate is 5.0%. This is 41% higher than the state rate of 3.6%. The median home value is $155,800. Housing costs are 25% lower than the state median of $208,000. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.2x, Humboldt County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 77.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 8% higher than the state average of 71.7%.

Race & Ethnicity

Humboldt County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 90.4% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 5.7%. The Black or African American population (0.3%) is well below the state average of 3.8%. The Asian population (1.0%) is well below the state average of 2.5%.

Education

19.4% 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 93.2%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Humboldt 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 Humboldt County, Iowa?

Humboldt County has a population of 9,591, making it the 78th most populous county in Iowa.

What is the median income in Humboldt County?

The median household income in Humboldt County is $71,946 with a poverty rate of 12.9%.

How many cities are in Humboldt County, Iowa?

Humboldt County contains 11 Census-designated places.