Postville, Iowa Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Postville, Iowa had a total population of 2,979, the 123rd largest city in Iowa, with a median household income of $49,485, which is 34% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 23.7%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- Household income is 34% below the state average, indicating significant economic challenges.
- Housing is very affordable with a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.1x.
Postville Quick Facts
How Postville 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 | 2,787 | 2,979 | +6.9% |
| Median household income | $47,281 | $49,485 | +4.7% |
| Median home value | $100,300 | $104,700 | +4.4% |
How Postville 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 diverse community with significant representation from multiple racial and ethnic groups.
State average: 31 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Postville Rankings in Iowa
Explore Iowa Rankings
Other Cities in Clayton County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guttenberg | 1,782 | $57,599 | 24.7% | $193,900 |
| Monona | 1,531 | $74,286 | 7.3% | $140,800 |
| Elkader | 1,293 | $62,857 | 9.6% | $143,200 |
| Strawberry Point | 1,267 | $57,778 | 11.3% | $114,700 |
| Garnavillo | 816 | $75,357 | 12.3% | $123,100 |
| McGregor | 719 | $57,361 | 12.4% | $161,100 |
| Marquette | 443 | $42,292 | 22.6% | $164,400 |
| Farmersburg | 375 | $51,667 | 12.8% | $78,000 |
| Luana | 317 | $76,750 | 8.2% | $152,700 |
| Volga | 216 | $54,063 | 6.9% | $80,700 |
Cities Similar to Postville
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Burlington | 3,189 | $48,542 | $124,000 | 24.9% | 23.8% |
| Sibley | 2,803 | $55,070 | $122,000 | 22.9% | 23.5% |
| Tipton | 3,106 | $61,115 | $165,500 | 20.3% | 12.3% |
| Onawa | 2,839 | $62,143 | $145,800 | 19.4% | 16.3% |
| Belmond | 2,694 | $56,528 | $129,100 | 29.9% | 19.8% |
Population Overview
Postville is a small community located in Iowa, within Clayton County. The total population is 2,979. It ranks as the 123rd most populous out of 1,017 Census-designated places in Iowa.
Age Demographics
The median age in Postville is 23.2 years. This is 40% lower than the state median of 38.6 years. With 39.6% of the population under 18, Postville has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Postville is $49,485. 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 23.7%. This is 114% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.1%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 5.2%. This is 46% higher than the state rate of 3.6%. The median home value is $104,700. Housing costs are 50% lower than the state median of $208,000. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.1x, Postville is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 51.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 28% lower than the state average of 71.7%.
Race & Ethnicity
The largest racial or ethnic group in Postville is White (non-Hispanic), making up 45.7% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 42.5%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (11.0% vs 3.8%). The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (42.5% vs 7.3%). The Asian population (0.3%) is well below the state average of 2.5%.
Education
14.2% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 55% 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 81.6%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Postville, 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 Postville, Iowa?
Postville, Iowa has a population of 2,979 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Postville, IA?
The median household income in Postville is $49,485, which is 39% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Postville, IA?
The poverty rate in Postville is 23.7%. This means approximately 694 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Postville, Iowa?
Postville's population is 45.7% White, 11.0% Black, 42.5% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.3% Asian.
What is the median home value in Postville, IA?
The median home value in Postville is $104,700. The home-value-to-income ratio is 2.1x.
How educated is Postville, Iowa?
14.2% of adults (25+) in Postville hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 5.8% hold a graduate or professional degree.