Melrose, Iowa Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 115, Melrose'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

Melrose is a small community located in Iowa, within Monroe County. The total population is 115. It ranks as the 834th most populous out of 1,017 Census-designated places in Iowa.

Age Demographics

The median age in Melrose is 51.5 years. This is 33% higher than the state median of 38.6 years. Only 13.0% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 27.0% 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 Melrose is $56,250. This is 25% lower than the state median of $75,059. It is also 30% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 28.7%. This is 159% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.1%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 47.4%. This is 1223% higher than the state rate of 3.6%. The median home value is $75,000. Housing costs are 64% lower than the state median of $208,000. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.3x, Melrose is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 95.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 34% higher than the state average of 71.7%.

Race & Ethnicity

Melrose has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 94.8% of all residents. Asian residents account for 0.9%. The Asian population (0.9%) is well below the state average of 2.5%.

Education

3.7% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is among the lowest rates in the state, which may correlate with employment and income patterns. This is 88% 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 90.2%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Melrose, 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.