Melvin, Iowa Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Melvin, Iowa had a total population of 230, the 672nd largest city in Iowa, with a median household income of $65,417, which is 13% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 14.4%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- Only 8.7% of adults have a bachelor's degree, well below the national average of 35.7%.
- Housing is very affordable with a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.0x.
- Near full employment with an unemployment rate of just 1.5%.
Melvin Quick Facts
How Melvin Changed
Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.
| Metric | 2019–2023 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 311 | 230 | -26.0% |
| Median household income | $65,795 | $65,417 | -0.6% |
| Median home value | $51,500 | $68,000 | +32.0% |
How Melvin Compares
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.
State average: 31 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Melvin Rankings in Iowa
Explore Iowa Rankings
Other Cities in Osceola County
Cities Similar to Melvin
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coulter | 228 | $62,917 | $90,000 | 10.6% | 16.7% |
| Douds | 243 | N/A | $96,700 | 27.5% | 41.6% |
| Cushing | 243 | $66,875 | $66,000 | 15.4% | 24.3% |
| Prescott | 213 | $65,000 | $51,700 | 6.3% | 4.7% |
| Ladora | 240 | $60,625 | $78,200 | 12.9% | 9.6% |
A note before these figures: with a population of 230, Melvin'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
Melvin is a small community located in Iowa, within Osceola County. The total population is 230. It ranks as the 672nd most populous out of 1,017 Census-designated places in Iowa.
Age Demographics
The median age in Melvin is 41.3 years. This is 7% higher than the state median of 38.6 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Melvin is $65,417. This is 13% lower than the state median of $75,059. It is also 19% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 14.4%. This is 30% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.1%. The unemployment rate is 1.5%. This is 57% lower than the state rate of 3.6%. The median home value is $68,000. Housing costs are 67% lower than the state median of $208,000. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.0x, Melvin is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 90.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 27% higher than the state average of 71.7%.
Race & Ethnicity
The largest racial or ethnic group in Melvin is White (non-Hispanic), making up 81.3% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 15.2%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (15.2% vs 7.3%). The Asian population (0.4%) is well below the state average of 2.5%.
Education
8.7% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 72% 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 72.7%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Melvin, 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.
Free data download: Get all Iowa city and county demographics as CSV. Download Cities CSV | Download Counties CSV
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Melvin, Iowa?
Melvin, Iowa has a population of 230 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Melvin, IA?
The median household income in Melvin is $65,417, which is 19% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Melvin, IA?
The poverty rate in Melvin is 14.4%. This means approximately 33 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Melvin, Iowa?
Melvin's population is 81.3% White, 0.0% Black, 15.2% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.4% Asian.
What is the median home value in Melvin, IA?
The median home value in Melvin is $68,000. The home-value-to-income ratio is 1.0x.
How educated is Melvin, Iowa?
8.7% of adults (25+) in Melvin hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 0.0% hold a graduate or professional degree.