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Mills County, Iowa Demographics 2026

Mills County, Iowa has a population of 14,568, the 53rd most populous county in Iowa. The median household income is $90,753 and the median home value is $237,800. The poverty rate is 8.2%.

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

Mills County Quick Facts

Population 14,568
Median Household Income $90,753
Median Home Value $237,800
Poverty Rate 8.2%
Unemployment Rate 2.0%
Median Age 42.1 years
Homeownership Rate 83.5%
Affordability Ratio 2.6x
Bachelor's Degree+ 31.0%
High School Graduation 96.6%
Cities/Places 9
Population 14,568 53rd of 99
Median Income $90,753 21% higher than state
Poverty Rate 8.2%
Unemployment 2.0%

How Mills 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
Population14,56314,568+0.0%
Median household income$87,810$90,753+3.4%
Median home value$228,700$237,800+4.0%

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 13.0%
$25K-$50K 11.1%
$50K-$100K 29.6%
$100K+ 46.3%
Detailed income brackets
Under $10K
3.1%
$10K-$15K
3.4%
$15K-$20K
1.8%
$20K-$25K
4.8%
$25K-$30K
1.4%
$30K-$35K
2.7%
$35K-$40K
2.4%
$40K-$45K
2.2%
$45K-$50K
2.4%
$50K-$60K
7.1%
$60K-$75K
10.7%
$75K-$100K
11.8%
$100K-$125K
14.9%
$125K-$150K
9.3%
$150K-$200K
11.3%
$200K+
10.8%

Employment

2.0% Unemployment Rate State: 3.6%|National: 5.2%
61.7% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 83.5%
Renter 16.5%
Affordability Index Very Affordable
2.6x home value to income ratio
Median gross rent $959/mo 12.7% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

14out 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 Mills County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
Glenwood5,144$71,79011.8%$206,200
Malvern1,323$84,2236.6%$174,700
Tabor877$58,75014.5%$204,200
Emerson570$49,06315.1%$119,500
Silver City504$67,25019.8%$156,800
Hastings164$84,3759.2%$90,700
Pacific Junction150N/A14.0%$149,100
Henderson143$54,37525.4%$77,500
Mineola110N/A0.0%N/A

Population Overview

Mills County is located in Iowa with a total population of 14,568. It is the 53rd most populous county out of 99 in Iowa. The county encompasses 9 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Mills County is 42.1 years. This is 9% higher than the state median of 38.6 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Mills County is $90,753. This is 21% higher than the state median of $75,059. It is also 12% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 8.2%. This is 26% lower than the state poverty rate of 11.1%. The unemployment rate is 2.0%. This is 45% lower than the state rate of 3.6%. The median home value is $237,800. Housing costs are 14% higher than the state median of $208,000. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.6x, Mills County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 83.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 17% higher than the state average of 71.7%.

Race & Ethnicity

Mills County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 92.7% 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 (0.4%) is well below the state average of 2.5%.

Education

31.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 1% 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 96.6%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Mills 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 Mills County, Iowa?

Mills County has a population of 14,568, making it the 53rd most populous county in Iowa.

What is the median income in Mills County?

The median household income in Mills County is $90,753 with a poverty rate of 8.2%.

How many cities are in Mills County, Iowa?

Mills County contains 9 Census-designated places.