Leighton, Iowa Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 150, Leighton'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

Leighton is a small community located in Iowa, within Mahaska County. The total population is 150. It ranks as the 762nd most populous out of 1,017 Census-designated places in Iowa.

Age Demographics

The median age in Leighton is 42.5 years. This is 10% higher than the state median of 38.6 years. 10.7% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Leighton is $66,389. This is 12% lower than the state median of $75,059. It is also 18% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 2.0%. This is 82% lower than the state poverty rate of 11.1%. This exceptionally low poverty rate indicates strong economic prosperity across the community. The survey records no unemployed residents in Leighton, which reflects the size of the sample rather than a labor market without joblessness. The median home value is $126,600. Housing costs are 39% lower than the state median of $208,000. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.9x, Leighton is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 80.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 12% higher than the state average of 71.7%.

Race & Ethnicity

Leighton has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 96.0% of all residents. Asian residents account for 1.3%. The Black or African American population (0.7%) is well below the state average of 3.8%.

Education

25.2% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 20% 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 97.2%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Leighton, 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.