Ralston, Iowa Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 61, Ralston'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

Ralston is a small community located in Iowa, within Carroll County. The total population is 61. It ranks as the 923rd most populous out of 1,017 Census-designated places in Iowa.

Age Demographics

The median age in Ralston is 38.8 years. This is about the same as the state median of 38.6 years. 13.1% 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 Ralston is $62,917. This is 16% lower than the state median of $75,059. It is also 22% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 26.2%. This is 137% 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 8.3%. This is 133% higher than the state rate of 3.6%. The median home value is $83,000. Housing costs are 60% lower than the state median of $208,000. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.3x, Ralston is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 84.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 17% higher than the state average of 71.7%.

Race & Ethnicity

Ralston has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 88.5% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 8.2%.

Education

4.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is among the lowest rates in the state, which may correlate with employment and income patterns. This is 85% 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 Ralston, 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.