Menlo, Iowa Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Menlo, Iowa had a total population of 398, the 529th largest city in Iowa, with a median household income of $77,396, which is 3% higher than the state average. The poverty rate is 5.3%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- Only 8.6% 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 1.4x.
- Unemployment rate of 16.0% is notably above the national average.
Menlo Quick Facts
How Menlo 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 | 355 | 398 | +12.1% |
| Median household income | $78,333 | $77,396 | -1.2% |
| Median home value | $107,100 | $107,100 | +0.0% |
How Menlo 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+)
Menlo Rankings in Iowa
Explore Iowa Rankings
Other Cities in Guthrie County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guthrie Center | 1,689 | $71,116 | 14.8% | $123,800 |
| Stuart | 1,655 | $65,000 | 14.0% | $159,500 |
| Panora | 1,579 | $66,339 | 9.3% | $182,000 |
| Lake Panorama | 928 | $126,563 | 4.9% | $388,600 |
| Yale | 405 | $54,464 | 12.3% | $80,800 |
| Bayard | 398 | $57,250 | 26.7% | $65,800 |
| Casey | 381 | $58,438 | 27.6% | $96,600 |
| Diamondhead Lake | 285 | $148,542 | 0.0% | $411,800 |
| Bagley | 223 | $38,906 | 19.0% | $80,000 |
| Jamaica | 189 | $52,250 | 23.5% | $67,000 |
Cities Similar to Menlo
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mondamin | 403 | $75,000 | $102,700 | 19.1% | 12.9% |
| Miles | 398 | $72,708 | $130,700 | 19.4% | 15.1% |
| Goose Lake | 387 | $76,875 | $139,900 | 23.6% | 20.6% |
| Holiday Lake | 397 | $82,868 | $284,800 | 37.2% | 4.0% |
| Pulaski | 403 | $73,438 | $102,600 | 15.6% | 11.7% |
A note before these figures: with a population of 398, Menlo'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
Menlo is a small community located in Iowa, within Guthrie County. The total population is 398. It ranks as the 529th most populous out of 1,017 Census-designated places in Iowa.
Age Demographics
The median age in Menlo is 43.6 years. This is 13% higher than the state median of 38.6 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Menlo is $77,396. This is 3% higher than the state median of $75,059. It is also 4% 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 16.0%. This is 348% higher than the state rate of 3.6%. The median home value is $107,100. Housing costs are 49% lower than the state median of $208,000. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.4x, Menlo is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 88.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 23% higher than the state average of 71.7%.
Race & Ethnicity
Menlo has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 86.9% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 4.3%.
Education
8.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 73% 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 92.6%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Menlo, 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.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Menlo, Iowa?
Menlo, Iowa has a population of 398 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Menlo, IA?
The median household income in Menlo is $77,396, which is 4% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Menlo, IA?
The poverty rate in Menlo is 5.3%. This means approximately 21 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Menlo, Iowa?
Menlo's population is 86.9% White, 0.0% Black, 4.3% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.0% Asian.
What is the median home value in Menlo, IA?
The median home value in Menlo is $107,100. The home-value-to-income ratio is 1.4x.
How educated is Menlo, Iowa?
8.6% of adults (25+) in Menlo hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 0.4% hold a graduate or professional degree.