Jefferson County, Iowa Demographics 2026
Jefferson County, Iowa has a population of 15,705, the 48th most populous county in Iowa. The median household income is $61,620 and the median home value is $163,400. The poverty rate is 15.2%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Jefferson County Quick Facts
How Jefferson 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 | 15,676 | 15,705 | +0.2% |
| Median household income | $56,824 | $61,620 | +8.4% |
| Median home value | $161,200 | $163,400 | +1.4% |
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 Jefferson County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fairfield | 9,456 | $51,311 | 20.7% | $156,000 |
| Packwood | 539 | $51,500 | 0.7% | $80,000 |
| Batavia | 536 | $56,250 | 9.7% | $111,600 |
| Lockridge | 452 | $113,750 | 1.8% | N/A |
| Libertyville | 324 | $76,131 | 3.1% | $162,500 |
| Maharishi Vedic City | 282 | $66,875 | 10.0% | $325,000 |
| Pleasant Plain | 92 | $86,458 | 6.5% | $77,800 |
Explore Iowa Rankings
Population Overview
Jefferson County is located in Iowa with a total population of 15,705. It is the 48th most populous county out of 99 in Iowa. The county encompasses 7 Census-designated places.
Age Demographics
The median age in Jefferson County is 43.7 years. This is 13% higher than the state median of 38.6 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Jefferson County is $61,620. This is 18% lower than the state median of $75,059. It is also 24% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 15.2%. This is 37% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.1%. The unemployment rate is 8.0%. This is 122% higher than the state rate of 3.6%. The median home value is $163,400. Housing costs are 21% lower than the state median of $208,000. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.7x, Jefferson County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 67.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 6% lower than the state average of 71.7%.
Race & Ethnicity
The largest racial or ethnic group in Jefferson County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 82.4% of the population. Asian residents account for 8.2%. The Asian population is significantly higher than the state average (8.2% vs 2.5%).
Education
43.2% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Jefferson County in the top 10% of all counties in the state for educational attainment. This is 38% higher 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 95.1%. Notably, 18.8% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.
Data Sources & Methodology
All figures for Jefferson 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 Jefferson County, Iowa?
Jefferson County has a population of 15,705, making it the 48th most populous county in Iowa.
What is the median income in Jefferson County?
The median household income in Jefferson County is $61,620 with a poverty rate of 15.2%.
How many cities are in Jefferson County, Iowa?
Jefferson County contains 7 Census-designated places.