Mount Sterling, Iowa Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Mount Sterling, Iowa had a total population of 36, the 968th largest community in Iowa. The poverty rate is 0.0%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- Only 0.0% of adults have a bachelor's degree, well below the national average of 35.7%.
Mount Sterling Quick Facts
How Mount Sterling 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 | 32 | 36 | +12.5% |
How Mount Sterling Compares
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
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+)
Mount Sterling Rankings in Iowa
Explore Iowa Rankings
Other Cities in Van Buren County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Keosauqua | 914 | $51,136 | 8.8% | $98,500 |
| Farmington | 540 | $53,333 | 16.3% | $81,400 |
| Milton | 493 | $51,500 | 21.7% | $61,400 |
| Birmingham | 454 | $65,000 | 13.1% | $96,300 |
| Cantril | 335 | $40,000 | 8.1% | $80,000 |
| Bonaparte | 302 | $40,909 | 16.6% | $69,600 |
| Douds | 243 | N/A | 41.6% | $96,700 |
| Stockport | 210 | $53,125 | 22.4% | $57,500 |
| Leando | 74 | N/A | 13.5% | N/A |
Cities Similar to Mount Sterling
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coburg | 36 | $33,750 | N/A | 0.0% | 36.1% |
| Garden City | 36 | N/A | $110,200 | 22.2% | 0.0% |
| High Amana | 36 | N/A | N/A | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Anderson | 37 | N/A | N/A | 19.4% | 0.0% |
| Conway | 35 | $21,771 | $23,300 | 0.0% | 8.6% |
A note before these figures: with a population of 36, Mount Sterling'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
Mount Sterling is a small community located in Iowa, within Van Buren County. The total population is 36. It ranks as the 968th most populous out of 1,017 Census-designated places in Iowa.
Age Demographics
38.9% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.
Economy, Income & Housing
The ACS records no residents below the poverty line in Mount Sterling. In a community this small the estimate rests on very few survey responses, so it should be read as an absence of measurement rather than a measured absence of poverty. 100.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 39% higher than the state average of 71.7%.
Race & Ethnicity
Every resident counted in Mount Sterling was recorded as White (non-Hispanic). A figure of exactly 100.0% reflects a survey sample too small to capture the community's full composition rather than a precise measurement.
Education
0.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is among the lowest rates in the state, which may correlate with employment and income patterns. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. No surveyed resident aged 25 or older reported leaving school before earning a high school diploma, though a rate of exactly 100% reflects the limits of a small sample.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Mount Sterling, 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 Mount Sterling, Iowa?
Mount Sterling, Iowa has a population of 36 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Mount Sterling, IA?
The Census Bureau does not publish a reliable median household income estimate for Mount Sterling — the community is too small for the ACS sample. The national median is $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Mount Sterling, IA?
The ACS sample for Mount Sterling recorded no residents below the federal poverty line. Because the community is small, this indicates that the survey did not capture poverty here rather than that no poverty exists — the estimate carries a wide margin of error.
What is the racial makeup of Mount Sterling, Iowa?
Mount Sterling's population is 100.0% White, 0.0% Black, 0.0% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.0% Asian.
What is the median home value in Mount Sterling, IA?
The Census Bureau does not publish a reliable median home value estimate for Mount Sterling — there are too few owner-occupied homes in the ACS sample. The national median is $332,700.
How educated is Mount Sterling, Iowa?
0.0% of adults (25+) in Mount Sterling hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 0.0% hold a graduate or professional degree.