Skip to main content

Lyon County, Iowa Demographics 2026

Lyon County, Iowa has a population of 12,162, the 62nd most populous county in Iowa. The median household income is $76,746 and the median home value is $230,000. The poverty rate is 5.3%.

Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes

Lyon County Quick Facts

Population 12,162
Median Household Income $76,746
Median Home Value $230,000
Poverty Rate 5.3%
Unemployment Rate 2.3%
Median Age 38.2 years
Homeownership Rate 80.9%
Affordability Ratio 3.0x
Bachelor's Degree+ 20.4%
High School Graduation 95.3%
Cities/Places 8
Population 12,162 62nd of 99
Median Income $76,746 2% higher than state
Poverty Rate 5.3%
Unemployment 2.3%

How Lyon County Changed

Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.

Metric2019–20232020–2024Change
Population12,08712,162+0.6%
Median household income$72,881$76,746+5.3%
Median home value$215,600$230,000+6.7%

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 11.5%
$25K-$50K 18.9%
$50K-$100K 35.5%
$100K+ 34.0%
Detailed income brackets
Under $10K
2.5%
$10K-$15K
3.4%
$15K-$20K
2.8%
$20K-$25K
2.8%
$25K-$30K
4.1%
$30K-$35K
2.4%
$35K-$40K
4.6%
$40K-$45K
4.2%
$45K-$50K
3.7%
$50K-$60K
7.8%
$60K-$75K
10.9%
$75K-$100K
16.9%
$100K-$125K
12.2%
$125K-$150K
5.5%
$150K-$200K
8.4%
$200K+
7.9%

Employment

2.3% Unemployment Rate State: 3.6%|National: 5.2%
68.3% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 80.9%
Renter 19.1%
Affordability Index Affordable
3.0x home value to income ratio
Median gross rent $843/mo 13.2% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

13out of 100
Very Low Diversity

A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.

State average: 31 | National average: 61

Education

Cities & Places in Lyon County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
Rock Rapids2,661$63,9426.5%$206,700
Larchwood1,136$67,1887.9%$215,600
George1,064$57,9419.3%$133,100
Inwood793$62,3335.3%$202,900
Doon529$63,7506.0%$198,900
Little Rock395$68,1945.6%$85,800
Lester340$99,0631.5%$190,900
Alvord173$73,5940.0%$93,000

Population Overview

Lyon County is located in Iowa with a total population of 12,162. It is the 62nd most populous county out of 99 in Iowa. The county encompasses 8 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Lyon County is 38.2 years. This is 1% lower than the state median of 38.6 years. With 28.2% of the population under 18, Lyon County has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Lyon County is $76,746. This is 2% higher than the state median of $75,059. It is also 5% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 5.3%. This is 52% lower than the state poverty rate of 11.1%. The unemployment rate is 2.3%. This is 35% lower than the state rate of 3.6%. The median home value is $230,000. Housing costs are 11% higher than the state median of $208,000. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.0x. 80.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 13% higher than the state average of 71.7%.

Race & Ethnicity

Lyon County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 93.4% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 3.9%. The Black or African American population (0.4%) is well below the state average of 3.8%. The Asian population (0.5%) is well below the state average of 2.5%.

Education

20.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 35% 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 95.3%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Lyon 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 Lyon County, Iowa?

Lyon County has a population of 12,162, making it the 62nd most populous county in Iowa.

What is the median income in Lyon County?

The median household income in Lyon County is $76,746 with a poverty rate of 5.3%.

How many cities are in Lyon County, Iowa?

Lyon County contains 8 Census-designated places.