Moorhead, Iowa Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Moorhead, Iowa had a total population of 195, the 702nd largest city in Iowa, with a median household income of $45,000, which is 40% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 26.2%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- Household income is 40% below the state average, indicating significant economic challenges.
- More than 1 in 4 residents live below the poverty line (26.2%), well above the national average of 12.4%.
- Only 8.2% 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 1.2x.
- Near full employment with an unemployment rate of just 1.1%.
Moorhead Quick Facts
How Moorhead 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 | 263 | 195 | -25.9% |
| Median household income | $35,938 | $45,000 | +25.2% |
| Median home value | $56,400 | $54,200 | -3.9% |
How Moorhead 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+)
Moorhead Rankings in Iowa
Explore Iowa Rankings
Other Cities in Monona County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Onawa | 2,839 | $62,143 | 16.3% | $145,800 |
| Mapleton | 989 | $55,208 | 8.4% | $113,000 |
| Whiting | 777 | $73,333 | 9.7% | $113,800 |
| Ute | 351 | $55,341 | 12.0% | $75,000 |
| Blencoe | 280 | $86,875 | 2.9% | $87,500 |
| Castana | 162 | $55,469 | 6.2% | $74,400 |
| Soldier | 133 | $56,250 | 15.8% | $78,300 |
| Turin | 131 | $94,129 | 0.8% | $95,000 |
| Rodney | 39 | $51,563 | 10.3% | $170,800 |
Cities Similar to Moorhead
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alta Vista | 194 | $44,500 | $68,200 | 4.4% | 12.9% |
| Weston | 192 | N/A | N/A | 65.5% | 0.0% |
| Conroy | 199 | N/A | $213,000 | 51.8% | 4.0% |
| Williamson | 190 | $45,000 | N/A | 0.0% | 35.8% |
| Bentley | 189 | N/A | $188,900 | 63.7% | 6.3% |
A note before these figures: with a population of 195, Moorhead'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
Moorhead is a small community located in Iowa, within Monona County. The total population is 195. It ranks as the 702nd most populous out of 1,017 Census-designated places in Iowa.
Age Demographics
The median age in Moorhead is 46.8 years. This is 21% higher than the state median of 38.6 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Moorhead is $45,000. This is 40% lower than the state median of $75,059. It is also 44% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 26.2%. This is 136% 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 1.1%. This is 70% lower than the state rate of 3.6%. The median home value is $54,200. Housing costs are 74% lower than the state median of $208,000. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.2x, Moorhead is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 85.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 19% higher than the state average of 71.7%.
Race & Ethnicity
Every resident counted in Moorhead was recorded as White (non-Hispanic). A figure of exactly 99.5% reflects a survey sample too small to capture the community's full composition rather than a precise measurement.
Education
8.2% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 74% 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 98.0%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Moorhead, 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 Moorhead, Iowa?
Moorhead, Iowa has a population of 195 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Moorhead, IA?
The median household income in Moorhead is $45,000, which is 44% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Moorhead, IA?
The poverty rate in Moorhead is 26.2%. This means approximately 51 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Moorhead, Iowa?
Moorhead's population is 99.5% White, 0.0% Black, 0.0% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.0% Asian.
What is the median home value in Moorhead, IA?
The median home value in Moorhead is $54,200. The home-value-to-income ratio is 1.2x.
How educated is Moorhead, Iowa?
8.2% of adults (25+) in Moorhead hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 4.8% hold a graduate or professional degree.