Promise City, Iowa Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Promise City, Iowa had a total population of 105, the 854th largest city in Iowa, with a median household income of $41,563, which is 45% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 16.2%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- Household income is 45% below the state average, indicating significant economic challenges.
- Only 7.2% of adults have a bachelor's degree, well below the national average of 35.7%.
- Housing is very affordable with a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.3x.
Promise City Quick Facts
How Promise City 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 | 86 | 105 | +22.1% |
| Median household income | $41,406 | $41,563 | +0.4% |
| Median home value | $52,800 | $53,900 | +2.1% |
How Promise City 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 less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.
State average: 31 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Promise City Rankings in Iowa
Explore Iowa Rankings
Other Cities in Wayne County
Cities Similar to Promise City
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bradgate | 104 | N/A | $43,100 | 8.7% | 13.5% |
| Clemons | 108 | N/A | $96,400 | 13.9% | 0.9% |
| Mineola | 110 | N/A | N/A | 100.0% | 0.0% |
| Popejoy | 109 | $38,681 | $83,600 | 2.9% | 3.7% |
| Garber | 105 | $49,821 | $80,800 | 4.6% | 32.4% |
A note before these figures: with a population of 105, Promise City'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
Promise City is a small community located in Iowa, within Wayne County. The total population is 105. It ranks as the 854th most populous out of 1,017 Census-designated places in Iowa.
Age Demographics
The median age in Promise City is 34.7 years. This is 10% lower than the state median of 38.6 years. With 33.3% of the population under 18, Promise City has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community. 10.5% 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 Promise City is $41,563. This is 45% lower than the state median of $75,059. It is also 49% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 16.2%. This is 46% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.1%. The survey records no unemployed residents in Promise City, which reflects the size of the sample rather than a labor market without joblessness. The median home value is $53,900. Housing costs are 74% lower than the state median of $208,000. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.3x, Promise City is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 74.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 4% higher than the state average of 71.7%.
Race & Ethnicity
Promise City has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 97.1% of all residents.
Education
7.2% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 77% 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 91.3%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Promise City, 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.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Promise City, Iowa?
Promise City, Iowa has a population of 105 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Promise City, IA?
The median household income in Promise City is $41,563, which is 49% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Promise City, IA?
The poverty rate in Promise City is 16.2%. This means approximately 17 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Promise City, Iowa?
Promise City's population is 97.1% White, 0.0% Black, 0.0% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.0% Asian.
What is the median home value in Promise City, IA?
The median home value in Promise City is $53,900. The home-value-to-income ratio is 1.3x.
How educated is Promise City, Iowa?
7.2% of adults (25+) in Promise City hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 0.0% hold a graduate or professional degree.