Lost Nation, Iowa Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 390, Lost Nation'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

Lost Nation is a small community located in Iowa, within Clinton County. The total population is 390. It ranks as the 539th most populous out of 1,017 Census-designated places in Iowa.

Age Demographics

The median age in Lost Nation is 41.6 years. This is 8% higher than the state median of 38.6 years. 12.6% 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 Lost Nation is $57,000. This is 24% lower than the state median of $75,059. It is also 29% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 14.1%. This is 27% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.1%. The unemployment rate is 2.8%. This is 21% lower than the state rate of 3.6%. The median home value is $77,300. Housing costs are 63% lower than the state median of $208,000. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.4x, Lost Nation is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 68.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 4% lower than the state average of 71.7%.

Race & Ethnicity

Lost Nation has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 92.3% of all residents. Black or African American residents account for 0.8%. The Black or African American population (0.8%) is well below the state average of 3.8%. The Asian population (0.8%) is well below the state average of 2.5%.

Education

17.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 46% 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 94.8%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Lost Nation, 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.