Jefferson County, Iowa Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Jefferson County is located in Iowa with a total population of 15,676. It is the 48th most populous county out of 99 in Iowa. The county encompasses 1 Census-designated place.

Age Demographics

The median age in Jefferson County is 43.5 years. This is 13% higher than the state median of 38.6 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Jefferson County is $56,824. This is 22% lower than the state median of $73,147. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 28% lower. The poverty rate stands at 14.5%. This is 32% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.0%. The unemployment rate is 5.3%. This is 46% higher than the state rate of 3.6%. The median home value is $161,200. Housing costs are 18% lower than the state median of $195,900. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.8x, Jefferson County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 65.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 9% lower than the state average of 71.5%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Jefferson County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 82.7% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 5.7%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (5.7% vs 3.8%). The Asian population is significantly higher than the state average (4.6% vs 2.4%).

Education

41.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Jefferson County in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 35% higher than the state rate of 30.9%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 95.4%. Notably, 18.3% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.