Olds, Iowa Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 72, Olds'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

Olds is a small community located in Iowa, within Henry County. The total population is 72. It ranks as the 907th most populous out of 1,017 Census-designated places in Iowa.

Age Demographics

The median age in Olds is 47.5 years. This is 23% higher than the state median of 38.6 years. Only 9.7% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 12.5% 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 Olds is $49,375. This is 34% lower than the state median of $75,059. It is also 39% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 9.7%. This is 12% lower than the state poverty rate of 11.1%. The survey records no unemployed residents in Olds, which reflects the size of the sample rather than a labor market without joblessness. The median home value is $116,700. Housing costs are 44% lower than the state median of $208,000. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.4x, Olds is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 46.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 35% lower than the state average of 71.7%.

Race & Ethnicity

Olds has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 91.7% of all residents. Black or African American residents account for 8.3%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (8.3% vs 3.8%).

Education

10.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 66% lower than the state rate of 31.4%. 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 Olds, 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.