O'Brien County, Iowa Demographics 2026

Population Overview

O'Brien County is located in Iowa with a total population of 14,103. It is the 56th most populous county out of 99 in Iowa.

Age Demographics

The median age in O'Brien County is 39.8 years. This is 3% higher than the state median of 38.6 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in O'Brien County is $68,216. This is 7% lower than the state median of $73,147. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 13% lower. The poverty rate stands at 13.8%. This is 26% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.0%. The unemployment rate is 1.2%. This is 67% lower than the state rate of 3.6%. The median home value is $158,900. Housing costs are 19% lower than the state median of $195,900. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.3x, O'Brien County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 77.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 8% higher than the state average of 71.5%.

Race & Ethnicity

O'Brien County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 88.5% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 7.1%. The Black or African American population (1.3%) is well below the state average of 3.8%. The Asian population (0.6%) is well below the state average of 2.4%.

Education

22.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 27% lower than the state rate of 30.9%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 90.3%.