Skip to main content

Poweshiek County, Iowa Demographics 2026

Poweshiek County, Iowa has a population of 18,545, the 37th most populous county in Iowa. The median household income is $67,391 and the median home value is $209,300. The poverty rate is 10.8%.

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

Poweshiek County Quick Facts

Population 18,545
Median Household Income $67,391
Median Home Value $209,300
Poverty Rate 10.8%
Unemployment Rate 3.6%
Median Age 41.0 years
Homeownership Rate 71.2%
Affordability Ratio 3.1x
Bachelor's Degree+ 27.3%
High School Graduation 94.9%
Cities/Places 10
Population 18,545 37th of 99
Median Income $67,391 10% lower than state
Poverty Rate 10.8%
Unemployment 3.6%

How Poweshiek County Changed

Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.

Metric2019–20232020–2024Change
Population18,58218,545-0.2%
Median household income$64,837$67,391+3.9%
Median home value$184,200$209,300+13.6%

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 16.9%
$25K-$50K 19.7%
$50K-$100K 30.0%
$100K+ 33.4%
Detailed income brackets
Under $10K
5.5%
$10K-$15K
4.9%
$15K-$20K
3.7%
$20K-$25K
2.9%
$25K-$30K
3.3%
$30K-$35K
4.2%
$35K-$40K
3.7%
$40K-$45K
4.0%
$45K-$50K
4.4%
$50K-$60K
6.0%
$60K-$75K
11.7%
$75K-$100K
12.3%
$100K-$125K
11.4%
$125K-$150K
5.2%
$150K-$200K
9.8%
$200K+
7.0%

Employment

3.6% Unemployment Rate State: 3.6%|National: 5.2%
62.1% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 71.2%
Renter 28.8%
Affordability Index Affordable
3.1x home value to income ratio
Median gross rent $883/mo 15.7% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

19out of 100
Very Low Diversity

A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.

State average: 31 | National average: 61

Education

Cities & Places in Poweshiek County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
Grinnell9,505$65,32011.1%$209,500
Brooklyn1,459$73,43821.6%$137,100
Montezuma1,410$65,66012.5%$179,400
Victor987$74,00022.3%$116,600
Holiday Lake397$82,8684.0%$284,800
Deep River335$83,1253.6%$95,200
Malcom221$76,75010.1%$109,800
Hartwick114$83,7501.8%$90,000
Searsboro109$66,25017.4%$104,200
Guernsey50$70,8332.0%$73,300

Population Overview

Poweshiek County is located in Iowa with a total population of 18,545. It is the 37th most populous county out of 99 in Iowa. The county encompasses 10 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Poweshiek County is 41.0 years. This is 6% higher than the state median of 38.6 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Poweshiek County is $67,391. This is 10% lower than the state median of $75,059. It is also 17% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 10.8%. This is 3% lower than the state poverty rate of 11.1%. The unemployment rate is 3.6%. This is 2% higher than the state rate of 3.6%. The median home value is $209,300. Housing costs are about the same as the state median of $208,000. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.1x. 71.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied.

Race & Ethnicity

Poweshiek County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 89.8% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 3.5%. The Black or African American population (0.9%) 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%.

Education

27.3% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 13% 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 94.9%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Poweshiek 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 Poweshiek County, Iowa?

Poweshiek County has a population of 18,545, making it the 37th most populous county in Iowa.

What is the median income in Poweshiek County?

The median household income in Poweshiek County is $67,391 with a poverty rate of 10.8%.

How many cities are in Poweshiek County, Iowa?

Poweshiek County contains 10 Census-designated places.