Morning Sun, Iowa Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Morning Sun, Iowa had a total population of 802, the 348th largest city in Iowa, with a median household income of $56,350, which is 25% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 11.3%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- Housing is very affordable with a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.8x.
Morning Sun Quick Facts
How Morning Sun 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 | 733 | 802 | +9.4% |
| Median household income | $63,500 | $56,350 | -11.3% |
| Median home value | $90,300 | $102,200 | +13.2% |
How Morning Sun 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+)
Morning Sun Rankings in Iowa
Explore Iowa Rankings
Other Cities in Louisa County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus Junction | 2,110 | $63,828 | 10.3% | $125,800 |
| Wapello | 1,765 | $72,708 | 6.4% | $143,900 |
| Grandview | 449 | $57,625 | 9.6% | $142,400 |
| Letts | 361 | $76,538 | 3.3% | $122,400 |
| Columbus City | 323 | $89,875 | 5.9% | $111,600 |
| Fredonia | 240 | $85,625 | 32.5% | $71,700 |
| Oakville | 204 | $63,750 | 22.1% | $77,500 |
| Cotter | 31 | N/A | 34.5% | $112,500 |
Cities Similar to Morning Sun
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cambridge | 803 | $57,333 | $178,100 | 15.7% | 11.2% |
| Battle Creek | 803 | $59,688 | $73,800 | 10.2% | 8.2% |
| Afton | 817 | $54,545 | $95,300 | 21.0% | 13.9% |
| Dumont | 783 | $58,214 | $74,800 | 16.3% | 9.1% |
| Donnellson | 776 | $54,453 | $147,800 | 22.8% | 14.1% |
A note before these figures: with a population of 802, Morning Sun'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
Morning Sun is a small community located in Iowa, within Louisa County. The total population is 802. It ranks as the 348th most populous out of 1,017 Census-designated places in Iowa.
Age Demographics
The median age in Morning Sun is 46.5 years. This is 20% higher than the state median of 38.6 years. 14.1% 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 Morning Sun is $56,350. 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 11.3%. This is 2% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.1%. The survey records no unemployed residents in Morning Sun, which reflects the size of the sample rather than a labor market without joblessness. The median home value is $102,200. Housing costs are 51% lower than the state median of $208,000. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.8x, Morning Sun is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 83.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 16% higher than the state average of 71.7%.
Race & Ethnicity
Morning Sun has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 91.3% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 1.0%. The Hispanic or Latino population (1.0%) is well below the state average of 7.3%.
Education
11.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 63% 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 90.5%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Morning Sun, 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 Morning Sun, Iowa?
Morning Sun, Iowa has a population of 802 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Morning Sun, IA?
The median household income in Morning Sun is $56,350, which is 30% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Morning Sun, IA?
The poverty rate in Morning Sun is 11.3%. This means approximately 86 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Morning Sun, Iowa?
Morning Sun's population is 91.3% White, 0.0% Black, 1.0% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.0% Asian.
What is the median home value in Morning Sun, IA?
The median home value in Morning Sun is $102,200. The home-value-to-income ratio is 1.8x.
How educated is Morning Sun, Iowa?
11.6% of adults (25+) in Morning Sun hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 3.1% hold a graduate or professional degree.