Jamaica, Iowa Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Jamaica, Iowa had a total population of 189, the 711th largest city in Iowa, with a median household income of $52,250, which is 30% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 23.5%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- Household income is 30% below the state average, indicating significant economic challenges.
- Housing is very affordable with a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.3x.
Jamaica Quick Facts
How Jamaica 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 | 202 | 189 | -6.4% |
| Median household income | $53,750 | $52,250 | -2.8% |
| Median home value | $65,700 | $67,000 | +2.0% |
How Jamaica Compares
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+)
Jamaica Rankings in Iowa
Explore Iowa Rankings
Other Cities in Guthrie County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guthrie Center | 1,689 | $71,116 | 14.8% | $123,800 |
| Stuart | 1,655 | $65,000 | 14.0% | $159,500 |
| Panora | 1,579 | $66,339 | 9.3% | $182,000 |
| Lake Panorama | 928 | $126,563 | 4.9% | $388,600 |
| Yale | 405 | $54,464 | 12.3% | $80,800 |
| Bayard | 398 | $57,250 | 26.7% | $65,800 |
| Menlo | 398 | $77,396 | 5.3% | $107,100 |
| Casey | 381 | $58,438 | 27.6% | $96,600 |
| Diamondhead Lake | 285 | $148,542 | 0.0% | $411,800 |
| Bagley | 223 | $38,906 | 19.0% | $80,000 |
Cities Similar to Jamaica
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bentley | 189 | N/A | $188,900 | 63.7% | 6.3% |
| Weston | 192 | N/A | N/A | 65.5% | 0.0% |
| Riverton | 188 | $48,359 | $50,800 | 13.7% | 14.4% |
| Conroy | 199 | N/A | $213,000 | 51.8% | 4.0% |
| Rowan | 186 | $56,875 | N/A | 3.8% | 21.5% |
A note before these figures: with a population of 189, Jamaica'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
Jamaica is a small community located in Iowa, within Guthrie County. The total population is 189. It ranks as the 711th most populous out of 1,017 Census-designated places in Iowa.
Age Demographics
The median age in Jamaica is 37.5 years. This is 3% lower than the state median of 38.6 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Jamaica is $52,250. This is 30% lower than the state median of $75,059. It is also 35% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 23.5%. This is 112% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.1%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 3.1%. This is 15% lower than the state rate of 3.6%. The median home value is $67,000. Housing costs are 68% lower than the state median of $208,000. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.3x, Jamaica is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 69.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 4% lower than the state average of 71.7%.
Race & Ethnicity
Jamaica has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 95.8% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 2.6%. The Hispanic or Latino population (2.6%) is well below the state average of 7.3%.
Education
14.7% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 53% 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 demographic data for Jamaica, 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.
Free data download: Get all Iowa city and county demographics as CSV. Download Cities CSV | Download Counties CSV
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Jamaica, Iowa?
Jamaica, Iowa has a population of 189 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Jamaica, IA?
The median household income in Jamaica is $52,250, which is 35% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Jamaica, IA?
The poverty rate in Jamaica is 23.5%. This means approximately 44 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Jamaica, Iowa?
Jamaica's population is 95.8% White, 0.0% Black, 2.6% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.0% Asian.
What is the median home value in Jamaica, IA?
The median home value in Jamaica is $67,000. The home-value-to-income ratio is 1.3x.
How educated is Jamaica, Iowa?
14.7% of adults (25+) in Jamaica hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 1.7% hold a graduate or professional degree.