Palo Alto County, Iowa Demographics 2026

Name: Palo Alto County, Iowa Demographics
Creator: U.S. Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

Palo Alto County, Iowa has a population of 8,863, the 82nd most populous county in Iowa. The median household income is $72,781 and the median home value is $123,200. The poverty rate is 11.6%.

Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes

Palo Alto County Quick Facts

Population 8,863

Median Household Income $72,781

Median Home Value $123,200

Poverty Rate 11.6%

Unemployment Rate 2.2%

Median Age 41.9 years

Homeownership Rate 77.1%

Affordability Ratio 1.7x

Bachelor's Degree+ 19.0%

High School Graduation 93.3%

Cities/Places 8

Population 8,863 82nd of 99

Median Income $72,781 3% lower than state

Poverty Rate 11.6%

Unemployment 2.2%

How Palo Alto County 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	8,902	8,863	-0.4%
Median household income	$68,963	$72,781	+5.5%
Median home value	$119,300	$123,200	+3.3%

Median Household Income

Palo Alto

$72,781

$75,059

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

Palo Alto

$123,200

$208,000

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 14.5%

$25K-$50K 19.8%

$50K-$100K 30.1%

$100K+ 35.6%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

2.9%

$10K-$15K

4.2%

$15K-$20K

3.9%

$20K-$25K

3.5%

$25K-$30K

2.7%

$30K-$35K

4.4%

$35K-$40K

3.8%

$40K-$45K

4.7%

$45K-$50K

4.1%

$50K-$60K

8.9%

$60K-$75K

8.6%

$75K-$100K

12.6%

$100K-$125K

12.2%

$125K-$150K

10.1%

$150K-$200K

7.4%

$200K+

5.8%

Employment

2.2% Unemployment Rate State: 3.6%|National: 5.2%

67.2% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 77.1%

Renter 22.9%

Affordability Index Very Affordable

1.7x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $638/mo 10.5% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

23.1%

18-34

19.5%

35-54

21.7%

55-74

25.9%

75+

9.8%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

Very Low Diversity

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+)

Cities & Places in Palo Alto County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Emmetsburg	3,648	$55,833	15.2%	$114,300
Graettinger	1,096	$82,417	5.9%	$88,500
Ruthven	732	$58,625	15.3%	$105,700
Mallard	263	$45,909	19.0%	$57,500
Ayrshire	146	$58,906	6.2%	$28,500
Curlew	54	$64,688	13.0%	$58,000
Cylinder	46	$62,500	10.9%	$91,700
Rodman	26	$58,750	0.0%	N/A

Explore Iowa Rankings

Cities by Population All cities ranked by size Richest Cities Ranked by median income Most Educated By bachelor's degree rate Most Affordable By housing affordability

Population Overview

Palo Alto County is located in Iowa with a total population of 8,863. It is the 82nd most populous county out of 99 in Iowa. The county encompasses 8 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Palo Alto County is 41.9 years. This is 9% higher than the state median of 38.6 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Palo Alto County is $72,781. This is 3% lower than the state median of $75,059. It is also 10% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 11.6%. This is 5% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.1%. The unemployment rate is 2.2%. This is 39% lower than the state rate of 3.6%. The median home value is $123,200. Housing costs are 41% lower than the state median of $208,000. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.7x, Palo Alto County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 77.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 8% higher than the state average of 71.7%.

Race & Ethnicity

Palo Alto County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 91.3% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 3.5%. The Black or African American population (1.6%) is well below the state average of 3.8%. The Hispanic or Latino population (3.5%) is well below the state average of 7.3%. The Asian population (0.6%) is well below the state average of 2.5%.

Education

19.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 39% 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 93.3%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Palo Alto County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against Iowa and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Palo Alto County, Iowa?

Palo Alto County has a population of 8,863, making it the 82nd most populous county in Iowa.

What is the median income in Palo Alto County?

The median household income in Palo Alto County is $72,781 with a poverty rate of 11.6%.

How many cities are in Palo Alto County, Iowa?

Palo Alto County contains 8 Census-designated places.